Vegetative protein and its relation to grain protein in high and low grain protein winter wheats

Summary Better understanding of the physiological and genetic basis of wheat grain protein will contribute to breeding efforts for this characteristic. This study provides information about plant protein distribution in high and low grain protein winter wheats (Triticum aestivum L.) at different growth stages and its relation to grain protein. Field experiments involved two winter wheats with high grain protein, Redwin and Lancota, and two with low grain protein, Centurk and Brule in two years. Protein content in the head, the upper three leaves, the first and second leaf, and the peduncle were estimated with Near Infrared Reflectance Spectrophotometer (NIR) at five growth stages. High protein cultivars had higher leaf protein at ripe and higher protein content in the heads at most growth stages than low grain protein cultivars. High protein cultivars had lower protein content in the peduncle than low protein cultivars at ripe. Correlation coefficients between plant-part protein and grain protein ranged from 0.48 to 0.87 for the heads, from –0.45 to –0.79 for the peduncle, and from 0.55 to 0.84 for the leaves. A combination of head, peduncle, and first leaf protein at heading was significantly related to grain protein (R²=0.71). Indirect selection for head, peduncle, and first leaf (flag leaf) protein at heading should result in increased grain protein. Recurrent selection for increased grain protein, with parent selectionbefore anthesis and hybridization should be successful.