HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Lebsock, K. L. Articles by Amaya, A. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Lebsock, K. L. Articles by Amaya, A. Agricola Articles by Lebsock, K. L. Articles by Amaya, A.

Variation and Covariation of Agronomic Traits in Durum Wheat¹

Experience has shown that large kernels and high test weight have been associated in inheritance with tallness and lateness in the breeding of durum wheat, Triticum durum Desf. To determine if these unfavorable associations were genetic, F₂, F₃, and F₄ generations of four crosses were studied in the field. Phenotypic and genotypic correlation coefficients did show that selection for short, early-maturing plants might result in lines with lower kernel weight and test weight in some segregating populations. However, the selection of short, early, large seeded lines appeared to be possible. Significant positive correlations occurred for kernel weight with grain yield and test weight and grain yield with test weight.

Average heritabilities for kernel weight, test weight, and number of kernels per spike were 72, 67, and 69% respectively. Expected and actual gains due to selection agreed well for maturity, height, kernel weight, test weight, and number of kernels per spike.

The data showed that kernel weight might be used effectively for rapid indirect selection of high test weight and, possibly, higher yield in large F₂ and F₃ populations.

Key Words: Heritability • Genetic advance • Selection • Correlation

² Research Agronomist, Crops Research Division, Agricultural Research Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture, and Rockefeller Foundation Fellow, North Dakota State University.

Received for publication December 23, 1968.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				F. R. Guillen-Portal, R. N. Stougaard, Q. Xue, and K. M. Eskridge Compensatory Mechanisms Associated with the Effect of Spring Wheat Seed Size on Wild Oat Competition Crop Sci., February 24, 2006; 46(2): 935 - 945. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]