Inheritance of Grain Dormacy in White-Kernelled Wheat

Paterson, A. H.; Sorrells, M. E.

Inheritance of Grain Dormacy in White-Kernelled Wheat

1990

Paterson, A. H. | Sorrells, M. E.

Preharvest sprouting is a serious problem for seedsmen, growers, and processors of white-kernelled wheat (Triticum aestivum L. em Thell). Grain dormancy identified in several white-kernelled wheats may provide genetic variation necessary to breed sprouting-resistant white wheats. We have investigated the inheritance of grain dormancy from white-kernelled wheats ‘dark's Cream’ and NY6432- 18, in crosses with white-kernelled wheats ‘Geneva’ and ‘Houser’. Germination tests were performed on mature seed from several generations, with multilocation testing in advanced generations. Dormancy from each of the two sources shows largely dominant genetic effects, modification by background genotype, and a strong influence of environment. Large variation in dormancy among F₅ single-seed descent lines derived from dormant but otherwise divergent parents, indicates that multiple dormancy mechanisms remain in the gene pool of domestic white-kernelled wheats. Because of dominance and substantial nongenetic variation, selection for grain dormancy from these sources is best practiced among near-homozygous genotypes replicated over environments. Part of a thesis submitted by the senior author in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Ph.D, at Cornell University. Contribution of the Cornell Agric. Exp. Stn., Paper no. 768 of the Plant Breeding Series. Research supported in part by the RJR Nabisco Co., East Hanover, NJ, and by Hatch Project 418.

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