Some features of tillering in different wheat species.

Olga A. Yevdokimova.

We examined the great variation in tillering among Triticum L species. The number and condition of tiller buds in the seed germ; general tillering energy; tillering productivity; and the contribution of tillers to grain yield were evaluated. During a 3-year period, the wheat cultivars Saratovskaya 29 (T. aestivum L.), Kharkovskaya 46 (T. durum Desf.), and K-417 (T. dicoccum Schuebl.) were investigated under field conditions. The same number of tiller buds was discovered in germs of seeds of all investigated varieties (Table 6). Buds in the two first nodes represent the apex and profillum, and buds in the other nodes represent undifferentiated tuberous roots.

Table 6. Tiller development in different wheat species (average for 2 years)

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General Productive Contribution of tiller

Species tillering tillering shoots to grain yield, %

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T. aestivum 2.67 ± 0.33 1.32 ± 0.01 16.0 ± 0.45

T. durum 3.08 ± 0.33 1.31 ± 0.04 16.4 ± 1.20

T. dicoccum 3.48 ± 0.09 1.99 ± 0.03 43.3 ± 5.50

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Table 6 indicates that emmer wheat sharply exceeds durum and common (bread) wheat for these traits. Differences between T. aestivum and T. durum in productive tillering and tiller contribution to grain yield were not discovered. However, durum wheat exceeds common (bread) wheat in general tillering ability. The most clear differences were in the survival of productive tillers.

The ratio of productive tillers to the general amount of germinated tillers was 14 % for T. aestivum, 10 % for T. durum, and 40 % for T. dicoccum.


Laboratory of Genetics and Cytology

Agricultural Research Institute for South-East Regions, Tulaikov St. 7, Saratov, 410020 Russia.

V.A. Krupnov, S.N. Sibikeev, S.A. Voronina, and V.M. Semenov.

The effect of the prolamine locus on yield and grain protein content of red spring bread wheat.

Near-isogenic sibs with high and normal grain protein content (GPC) were selected from the backcross population `Saratovskaya 29*7/Atlas 66'. The influence of the prolamine locus on agronomic traits of isolines in field trials was studied. Experiments were conducted from 1989 to 1993 at the Central Research Field near Saratov in south Chernozem. The plots were not fertilized. All sowings were on summer fallow in early May, and all harvests were in early August. Sowing rates were 4 million seeds per ha. Each experiment was grown in a randomized complete block with four replications. Results indicate that line 894 had a higher GPC, from 0.79 to 2.68 % (average 1.51 %), than line 874, and these differences were significant for all years. In these lines, the culm length, date of anthesis, test weight, harvest index, 1,000-kernel weight, and grain yield were not significantly different, with the exception of 1990, when under a severe leaf rust epidemic the grain yield of line 894 was significantly higher. The lysine, methionine, and threonine contents were slightly higher in the flour from line 894 than in flour from line 874. The alveograph volume, loaf volume, and texture score were similar among sibs.

Genetic control of flour color in bread wheat and wheat/Agropyron lines.

The genes Lr19 (Sharma and Knott 1966), Lr19d (Marais 1990), and LrAgi1 and LrAgi2 are known to be linked closely to yellow flour pigment. However, there are few reports on the genetic control of flour color in lines with Agropyron translocations. In our investigations, an analysis of segregation in hybrids between bread wheat cultivars with white and cream-colored flour, `Saratovskaya 46' and `Saratovskaya 29', respectively, and wheat-Agropyron lines with yellow flour, Ps 29 (Lr19), Agro 139 (LrAgi1), and Agro 58 (Agri2), allowed us to determine that the trait of flour color is controlled by two groups of genes. The first group of genes is derived from bread wheat and durum wheat and the second from Ag. elongatum or Ag. intermedium. The genes for flour color have partial dominance and additive effects. The genotypic formulas for the cultivars and the wheat-Agropyron lines are:

Saratovskaya 46 Yf1 yf2 yf3 yf4 white flour

Saratovskaya 29 yf1 Yf2 Yf3 yf4 cream flour

Agro 58 yf1 Yf2 yf3 YfAgi1 yellow flour

Agro 139 yf1 Yf2 yf3 YiAgi1 yellow flour

P8 29 yf1 Yf2 Yf3 YfAge1 yellow flour

where Yf1 was derived from bread wheat, Yf2 and Yf3 were derived from durum wheat, and YfAgi1 and YfAge1 were derived from Ag.intermedium and Ag. elongatum, respectively.

References.

Sharma D and Knott DR. 1966. Can J. Genet Cytol 8:137-143.

Marais GF. 1990. Plant Breed 104:152-159.

The expression of Lr-gene combinations effective against race pp19 of Puccinia recondita and their relation to temperature.

The discovery of pathotypes of P. recondita that are virulent to Lr19, Lr19d, LrAgi1, LrAgi2, and Lr38 has made it possible to combine in one genotype these genes and others that are not overcome by leaf rust race pp19. We had determined previously that race pp19 was not virulent on genes Lr9, Lr23, Lr24, and Lr26. However, later experiments showed that the gene combinations Lr19/Lr9, Lr19/Lr23, and Lr19/Lr24 are thermosensitive. Moreover, an effect of the genotype that was the donor of Lr19 was detected. For example, the hybrid `L 504/TC Lr24' and other hybrids (L 546, L 583, and L 2032) with the cultivar `Thatcher' (Lr24) differ from each other by reaction to pp19 at 18_C and 30_C The hybrid F1 of the crosses `L 504/TC Lr9' and `L 1089/TC Lr9' differ from each other only at 18_C. Comparing the hybrids `L 1089/TC Lr23' (Lr19/Lr23), `L 1089/TC Lr26' (Lr19/Lr26), and `L 1089/Seri 82 (Lr19/Lr23 + Lr26), the influence of the Lr26 gene was determined. Under different temperatures, the Lr gene combinations `Lr19/Lr23 + Lr26' displayed the same infection type to race pp19 as Lr19/Lr26. In our experiments, the combination of Lr19/Lr26 produced infection type = 0 (resistant) in all hybrids at 18_C and 30_C. Thus, the gene combinations of Lr19/Lr9, Lr19/Lr23, Lr19/Lr24, and Lr19/Lr26 provide resistance to the pp19 pathotype, although thermosensitivity and genotype dependence on expression of the Lr genes were detected.

The study of Lr19 gene frequency in doubled haploid populations of bread wheat.

Yu. E. Sibikeeva.

The frequency of the Lr19 gene in hybrid F2s and DH populations was studied in the following combinations: `L 503/S 55', `L 504/S58', and `ATS 7/L 1063'. The parental lines L 503, L 504, and L1063 have Lr19, and S 55, S 58, and ATS 7 are susceptible to leaf rust. Gene segregation in the F2 generation fit the theoretically expected ratio of 3R:1S. This fact shows that, in these combinations, the transmission of Lr19 was not induced by the Sd1 gene. In hybrids `L 503/S 55', `L 504/S 58', and `ATS 7/L 1063', the action of Sd1, which is closely linked to Lr19, is suppressed.

In DH0 populations of these combinations, the ratio of resistant to susceptible lines does not fit the expected ratio of 1R:1S, and an excess of resistant lines was found. In the DH1 and DH3 generations, an increase in the number of susceptible lines was observed. The offspring of some regenerants had a different reaction to leaf rust during the DH0-DH3 generations from 0; to 3+. This variation was observed until the DH3. In DH3 populations of `L 503/S55' and `ATS 7/L 1063', the ratio of resistant to susceptible lines fit the 1R:1S ratio, but in the `L 504/S 58' population, an excess of susceptible plants were observed. On the DH line, heterozygosity for Lr19 was observed in a DH3 population of `AST 7/L 1063'. This line was derived from callus.

The incorportation of a solid stem in durum wheat breeding in the Volga Region.

V.A. Elesin and A.A. V'Yushkov.

Damage to bread and durum wheats by the sawfly (Cephus pugmaeus L.) in the Volga Regions is observed in some years. During 1992-94, durum wheat lines with solid stems were evaluated.

Analogous lines (AL) were produced by the backcross method of Dr. V. Yushokov in Samara, ARI (P. Bezenchuk). The durum wheat cultivar Bezenchukaya 139 (B139) was used as the recipient parent and durum wheat lines UM-6001 (Canada) and k-50989 (Russia) were used as donors of the solid stem trait.

The Als were studied in yield trials, in 4-row plots (8 sq m) with two (1992) and four (1992-94) replications. The comparison of ALs with solid and normal stems indicates that the ALs with solid stems did not differ from their sibs and recipient parent for number of ears per sq. M, height, heading date, resistance to lodging, and grain yield. At the same time, the solidness indicies were 4.1-4.9 for ALs with solid stems, 2.3-2.7 for its sibs, and 2.3 for the recipient parent.

Thus, the ALs of the durum wheat cultivar B 139 with solid stems are prospective donors of this trait to protect against sawfly damage and also may impart drought resistance to new cultivars for the Volga Region.