Quality and agronomic comparisons between nearly isogenic wheat lines differing for spike density
R.E. Allan
USDA-ARS, Washington State University, P0 Box 646420, Pullman, WA 99164 USA
Summary
Quality and agronomic comparisons were made between soft white winter wheat selections of Early Blackhull/ 7*Paha and Suweon l85/7*Paha that were nearly isogenic for club (CC) and lax (cc) spike density. The objective was to determine whether differences between the two sets of nearly isogenic lines (NILs) were directly associated with the C or c allele. Differences were detected for 7 of 13 quality traits measured between the club and lax NlLs during one or both seasons and for one or both populations. Flour yield, break flour yield, and milling score differed between the NILs of both populations when averaged across seasons. Values of these three traits were lower for club NILs versus their lax sibs. Less consistent differences occurred between the club and lax NILs for wheat protein, mixing type, cake volume, and cake score for one but not both populations. When quality trait differences occurred between dub and lax NILs, the lax sibs consistently had more optimal values than their dub sibs.No differences occurred between the dub and lax NlLs for grain yield, test weight, and spike number in either population. Club NILs of both populations had 19% more kernels per spike than lax sibs, but their kernels weighed 7 to 14% less. Club NILs sustained less lodging than lax NILs. In this study the dub (CC) genotype did not enhance soft wheat quality and actually adversely affected some quality traits.
Key words: Triticum aestivum L., market class, soft wheat