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Breeding for Mineral Content in Wheat and Barley¹

Varietal differences in P, K, Ca, and Mg content in wheat, Triticum aestivum L., and barley, Hordeum vulgate L., were investigated in field and greenhouse experiments. Varieties from this survey were used to obtain estimates of heritability of mineral content and information on the relationship between mineral content and grain and dry-matter production.

Varietal differences in P, K, Ca, and Mg in grain and leaves were large and of similar magnitude in wheat and barley. These differences were relatively consistent in two field environments, but agreement was poor between greenhouse and field. Estimates of heritability of P, K, Ca, and Mg content in grain of wheat and barley were low in the F₂ generation. However, estimates ranged from .31 to .80 in grain and .18 to .72 in leaves of wheat for replicated families in the F₄ generations. Ca appeared most amenable to selection, followed by P and K.

Large increases in yield and in P and K content occurred with addition of P or K in field experiments. However, differences among varieties in grain and drymatter yields were not associated with varietal differences in P or K content of leaves or grain. Likewise, variety differences in dry-matter yields obtained in nutrient solution were not associated with variety differences in P content. Varieties of wheat and barley did not appear to differ in efficiency of converting P or K into yield in field or greenhouse experiments.

Key Words: Phosphorus • Potassium • Calcium • Magnesium • Heritability • Nutrients

² Professor, Former Associate Scientists, and Graduate Student, respectively, in Agronomy and Plant Genetics, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minn. 55101.

Received for publication January 22, 1971.