Selection for yield, kernel weight and protein content in early generations of six wheat crosses

• Published in: Canadian journal of plant science 1988-01, Vol.68 (3), p.641-649
• Main Authors: Gebre-Mariam, H, Larter, E.N, Evans, L.E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Cereal and baking product industries; crop yield; crossing; Food industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; protein content; seed weight; selection criteria; selection index; Triticum aestivum
• ISSN: 0008-4220; 1918-1833
• DOI: 10.4141/cjps88-077

Early generation data consisting of F 1 heterosis, F 1 , F 2 and F 3 mean performances, parent-offspring regression, and F 2 –F 3 intergeneration correlation were used to identify potentially promising spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L. em Thell) crosses in terms of yield, kernel weight and protein content. The F 1 test identified one high-yielding cross out of six showing significant level of higher parent (38%) and mid-parent (70%) heterosis for yield, respectively. The top yielding cross, viz. Glenlea × NB505, in F 1 was also the second highest yielding population in F 2 and the best yielder in F 3 based on two locations. Hence, although F 2 single plant productivity measurements misplaced the rankings of some of the crosses, F 1 and F 3 performances indicated the relative potential of the different populations. Most crosses showed nonsignificant F 2 –F 3 regression and correlation coefficients for yield but significant coefficients for kernel weight. For protein content highly significant F 2 –F 3 regression and correlation coefficients were observed only for crosses involving the high protein parent. The use in F 1 of weight-free selection indices involving yield, kernel weight and protein content ranked Glenlea × NB505 as the best of six populations whereas in F 3 the same cross had the best aggregate merit when only yield and kernel weight were considered in the index. The inclusion of protein content in the index favored a high protein cross, Sinton × Glenlea.Key words: Wheat, Triticum aestivum, heterosis, parent-offspring regression, intergeneration correlation, selection index