Relationship Between High Molecular Weight Glutenin Subunit Composition and Gluten Quality in Ethiopian-grown Bread and Durum Wheat Cultivars and Lines

The high molecular weight glutenin subunit (HMW-GS) composition of 42 Ethiopian-grown bread wheat and 31 durum wheat cultivars and lines were examined using SDS-PAGE. Low variability in HMW-GS composition was present in both classes of wheat. A total of 10 variants with 14 different HMW patterns and seven variants with six different patterns were identified in bread and durum wheat, respectively, reflecting the limited ability of HMW-GS for cultivar identification. The most predominant alleles were 2*, 7 + 9 and 5 + 10 in bread wheat and nul and 7 + 8 in durum wheat. The Glu-1 quality scores for bread wheat ranged from 6 to 10, with an average value of 8.7. The variation in HMW-GS significantly correlated with and accounted for 44 % of the total variation in gluten quality, measured by the sodium dodecyl sulphate sedimentation test. In durum wheat, HMW-GS variation at Glu-B1 explained about 25 % of the variation in gluten quality. The high frequency of the 7 + 8 alleles among the landraces and the significant contribution of Glu-B1 alleles to the total variation in gluten quality indicate the potential benefit of Ethiopian tetraploid landraces in the development of lines suitable for both bread and pasta production.     

Responses of wheat and barley genotypes to toxic concentrations of soil boron

Summary The growth and yield of seven wheat and two barley cultivars or lines, previously found to show different degrees of boron tolerance under field conditions, were compared in a pot experiment at a range of soil boron treatments. Soil treatments ranged up to 150 mg/kg applied B. Extractable B in soils ranged up to 103 mg/kg.At the highest B treatment seedling emergence was delayed, but the percentage emergence was not reduced. The degree of boron toxicity symptom expression varied between the wheat cultivars and lines, with the two most tolerant, Halberd and (Wq^*KP)^*WmH)/6/12, displaying the least symptoms.The concentration of boron applied to the soil which produced a significant depression of growth and yield varied between cultivars. For example, the yield of (Wq^*KP)^*WmH)/6/12 was not affected at the 100 mg/kg applied boron treatment, while the grain yield for (Wl^*MMC)/W1/10 was significantly reduced at the 25 mg/kg treatment.There was a linear increase in boron concentration in tillers at the boot-stage with increasing concentration of boron in the soil. The most boron tolerant genotypes had the lowest tissue boron concentrations in each of the treatments. Halberd and (Wq^*KP)^*WmH)/6/12 had approximately half the boron concentrations of the more sensitive genotypes at the 25 and 50 mg/kg treatments. Differential tolerance of boron within the tissue was also observed. Both Stirling and (Wl^*MMC)/W1/10 had significantly reduced total dry matter and grain yields at the 25 mg/kg treatment, while the concentrations of boron in boot stage tillers at this treatment were 118 and 100 mg/kg, respectively. On the other hand, Halberd and (Wq^*KP)^*WmH)/6/12 had tissue boron concentrations of 144 and 131 mg/kg, respectively, at the 50 mg/kg treatment but yield was unaffected.The relative responses in the pot experiment, for wheat, were in close agreement with field results. Halberd and (Wq^*KP)^*WmH)/6/12 had the highest grain yields, with the lowest concentrations of boron in the grain when grown under high boron conditions in the field. In pots these two genotypes proved to be the most tolerant of boron. For barley the advantage in grain yield in the field, expressed by WI-2584 compared with Stirling, was not repeated in pots. WI-2584 was, however, more tolerant than Stirling on the basis of total dry matter production.The results show that useful variation in boron tolerance exists among wheat, and that breeding should be able to provide cultivars tolerant to high levels of boron.     

Phenotypic variation in boron-toxicity tolerance at seedling stage in durum wheat (Triticum durum)

Summary Nineteen durum wheat landraces, cultivars or advanced lines of different origins in West Asia and North Africa (WANA), and three barley and two bread wheat varieties were evaluated for their boron (B) toxicity tolerance. Seedlings were grown at five levels of soluble soil B in a plastic house under controlled temperatures. Significant differences existed between the durum wheat entries in days-to-symptom appearance and foliar symptom score. Under the highest soil B treatment, large differences existed between entries for dry weight per plant (P<0.05) but differences were non-significant for shoot B concentrations. Days-to-symptom appearance was highly correlated with symptom score, which was not correlated with shoot B concentrations. Boron toxicity symptom scores of the durum wheat entries ranged from the sensitive barley check to the moderately sensitive bread wheat check. As expected, days-to-symptom appearance decreased and symptom severity increased as the soil B concentrations increased.The result of this study supported the preliminary finding that small, though statistically significant, variation in B toxicity symptom scores exist in durum wheat. The higher CV of symptom scores found here was mainly due to one sensitive entry, Cakmak. If Cakmak was excluded from the analysis, the CV would be reduced by half, to 10%. Durum wheat genotypes which are more tolerant to B toxicity should be sought. Based on the results of this study, and of soil surveys and information collected in WANA, germplasm collected from Algeria, Iraq, Libya, Syria, and the Anatolian Plateau of Turkey should be screened first.Abbreviations B boron - WANA West Asia and North Africa     

Genetic variation in wheat cadmium accumulation on soils with different cadmium concentrations

Cadmium (Cd) accumulation in wheat genotypes of spring bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and spring durum wheat (Triticum turgidum var. durum) was studied in field trials every third week throughout the growing season. The study was carried out in Sweden on three different soils and during two growing seasons. The results showed that the genetic variation in shoot and grain Cd accumulation remained consistent, regardless of soil type or growing season. In addition, it was possible to select the genotype that accumulated most Cd already at the beginning of the growing season, since this genotype also accumulated most Cd in the vegetative tissues of the shoot. These results indicate that it is possible to identify genotypes that accumulate most Cd in the grain at an early plant development stage. High Cd concentrations in the shoot were also observed to give high Cd concentrations in the grain. This indicates that the regulatory mechanism for grain Cd accumulation is not located in the shoot, but in the root or as a feature of root Cd uptake. The soil material and the soil solution at all three sites were analysed for strongly bound Cd (as extracted with 2 m HNO₃), more easily plant‐available Cd (as extracted with ammonium lactate), pH, organic matter, clay content and conductivity. None of these parameters was clearly correlated to the Cd concentration in the grain.     

Genetic control of boron efficiency in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

The genetic control of boron (B) efficiencyin wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) wasstudied for three genotypes representing Binefficient (I, Bonza), moderately Binefficient (MI, SW 41) and B efficient (E,Fang 60) categories. Boron efficiency wasexpressed as a partially dominant characterbut the phenotypes of F₁ hybrids,relative to parents, indicated geneticcontrol varying from recessive to additiveto completely dominant with different crosscombinations and B levels. Major geneswere identified from the evaluation ofF₂-derived F₃ populations derivedfrom intercrosses between the threeparents. Monogenic segregation was foundin Bonza × SW 41 and SW 41 × Fang 60crosses and digenic segregation resultedin Bonza × Fang 60. Among thethree wheat genotypes with widely differentB efficiency, genetic variation forresponse to B could be accounted for by twogenes, Bo _d 1 and Bo _d 2.     

Identification of bread wheat,durum wheat and barley cultivars adapted to dry areas of Southern Italy

Summary Among the cultivars of bread wheat, durum wheat and barley grown in the South of Italy, genetic variation for adaptation to the high temperature and drought stress conditions typical of the Mediterranean environment has been found.The basic data have been extrapolated from 5 years of Italian national network cultivar trials, where 20–30 cultivars were grown in replicated plot trials in 30–50 locations per year, including some where stress strongly affected grain yield.After careful identification of the most representative years and testing sites it was possible to characterise the cultivars on the basis of the grain yield in stress conditions and the Fischer & Maurer (1978) susceptibility index and to find genotypic differences sufficiently repeatable in years.The cultivars giving the best yield under stress associated with low susceptibility indices were in bread wheat: Etruria, Spada, Pandas, Centauro, Oderzo, Costantino and Gladio, in durum wheat: Aldura, Arcangelo, Adamello, Vespro and Capeiti, in barley: Fleuret, Barberousse, Jaidor, Express, Trebbia, Georgie, Dahlia, Criter and Magie.     

The occurrence and inheritance of a brittle rachis phenotype in Italian durum wheat cultivars

Italian and Tunisian durum wheats from different eras of breeding were assessed for the presence of a gene for brittle rachis. Nine of 15 Italian durum landraces had brittle rachides. Strampellis achievement was the release of the well-known variety, Senatore Cappelli, which was derived from a Tunisian landrace, Jenah Rhettifah, which has a brittle rachis. Rachides of two Tunisian landraces were also brittle. Since the 1950s, 16 accessions were released as selections from crosses or mutagenesis involving Senatore Cappelli. Seven of these accessions have brittle rachides. F₂ segregation in intercrosses of Senatore Cappelli with other durum accessions with brittle rachides indicated a common allele for brittle rachis. Segregation of the F₂ from Senatore Cappelli/ANW 10A and the F₂ of Senatore Cappelli/ANW 10B showed that the gene for brittle rachis of Senatore Cappelli was allelic to the brittle allele of the Br-B1 locus on chromosome 3B. Senatore Cappelli was presumably the only source of brittle rachis used in Italian breeding programmes. The genes for brittle rachis have been retained in the gene pool of durum wheat, suggesting that the brittle rachis character is not associated with an appreciable yield loss in modern farming systems in Mediterranean environments.     

Comparison of European with West Asian and North African winter barleys in tolerance to boron toxicity

Three plastic-house experiments were conducted to compare the tolerance of European with West Asian and North African (WANA) winter barleys to boron (B) toxicity. Experiment I screened 24 winter barley entries with diverse origins. Experiment III tested 420 random accessions from seven European and seven WANA countries. Plants were screened in a soil mixed with boric acid (50 mg B/kg) and foliar B-toxicity symptom scores were recorded. Lower scores indicated higher B-toxicity tolerance. In Experiment II, five lines/varieties from each of the European and WANA groups were grown in pots with two soil B levels (0 and 25 mg B/kg). The West Asian landrace barleys had a lower mean B-toxicity symptom score than the European ones. The Syrian landrace variety normally grown in drier areas had a lower score than the Syrian landrace variety grown in wetter areas. Dry weights of the European and WANA groups were not different without adding B, but dry weight under 25 mg B/kg was lower for the European group than the WANA group. European accessions had a higher mean B-toxicity symptom score than the WANA accessions. Iranian and Afghan accessions had the lowest mean scores among countries. These results support the hypothesis that European winter barley varieties and accessions are less tolerant to B toxicity than those WANA accessions and varieties developed from local landraces. The lower B-toxicity tolerance could be a factor adversely affecting the performance of European winter barley varieties in the highlands of WANA. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effects of Zinc Deficiency and Drought on Grain Yield of Field-grown Wheat Cultivars in Central Anatolia

Drought stress and zinc (Zn) deficiency are serious abiotic stress factors limiting crop production in Turkey, especially in Central Anatolia. In this study, the effects of Zn deficiency and drought stress on grain yield of 20 wheat cultivars (16 bread wheat, Triticum aestivum; four durum wheat, Triticum durum cultivars) were investigated over 2 years under rainfed and irrigated conditions in Central Anatolia where drought and Zn deficiency cause substantial yield reductions. Plants were treated with (+Zn: 23 kg Zn ha⁻¹, as ZnSO₄·7H₂O) and without (−Zn) Zn under rainfed and irrigated conditions. Both Zn deficiency and rainfed treatments resulted in substantial decreases in grain yield. Significant differences were determined between both bread wheat and durum wheat cultivars in terms of drought stress tolerance. Considering drought sensitivity indices over 2 years, the bread wheat cultivars Yayla‐305, Gerek‐79, Dagdas‐94 and Bolal‐2973 were found to be more drought‐tolerant than the other cultivars under both −Zn and +Zn treatments. Especially the durum wheat cultivars Cakmak 79 and Selcuklu 97 showed much greater drought susceptibility under Zn deficiency, and irrigation alone was not sufficient to obtain satisfying grain yield without Zn application. The results indicate that sensitivity to Zn deficiency stress became more pronounced when plants were drought‐stressed. The effect of irrigation on grain yield was maximized when Zn was adequately supplied, leading to the suggestion that efficient water use in Central Anatolia seems to be highly dependent on the Zn nutritional status of plants.     

Method for screening bread wheat for tolerance to boron

A new method for screening wheat for boron tolerance has been developed to overcome the problems of methods used in the past. Seedlings were grown for 10 days while suspended over B-rich solutions. Their root lengths were then measured as an index of tolerance. Five varieties of wheat were screened at seven concentrations of B. Results were obtained more quickly and easily than from the alternative methodologies and compared favourably. Screening of 128 doubled haploid lines from a cross between Halberd and (Wl*MMC) suggested that transgressive segregation had occurred. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The response of Pisum sativum L. germplasm to high concentrations of soil boron

Summary Tolerance to high levels of boron in the soil is an important aspect of the adaptation of crop varieties to southern Australian conditions. This paper reports investigations aimed at exploring the extent of genetic variation in Pisum sativum and at defining appropriate selection criteria for selection for boron tolerance in breeding programs.A collection of 617 accessions of Pisum was screened in controlled conditions and visually assessed for symptoms of boron toxicity. A high proportion of accessions were sensitive with only 3.5% being more tolerant than any of the Australian varieties. Relatively high proportions of tolerant and moderately tolerant accessions originated from Asia and South America.In a second experiment the responses of selected tolerant accessions were evaluated with respect to different parameters. The objectives were to confirm the performance of the putative boron tolerant accessions and identify appropriate parameters for selecting boron tolerant genotypes. In addition to the visual assessment of boron toxicity, measurements at the time of harvest included dry matter yield and concentration of boron in tissues. Symptom expression was highly correlated with dry matter yield and concentration of boron in tissues under high boron conditions and so could be used as a non-destructive selection criteria. A low degree of symptom expression by tolerant accessions could usually be attributed to low levels of boron in the vegetative tissues. The results of this study indicate that considerable genetic variation exists among exotic accessions of Pisum sativum and tolerance to boron could be transferred to sensitive varieties.     

Suitability of Chinese wheat cultivars for production of northern style Chinese steamed bread

Fifty-six bread wheat cultivars and advanced lines from major Chinese wheat growing regions and 10 Australian cultivars were grown in Anyang located in Yellow and Huai Valleys and Chengdu located in Yangtze region. The genotypes were examined for their suitability to produce northern style Chinese steamed bread (CSB) and used to investigate the association between wheat quality traits and performance of northern style CSB under manual and mechanized processing conditions. Anyang-sown wheat samples showed better grain quality characteristics and CSB quality than the Chengdu-sown materials. These differences were largely due to adverse climatic conditions prevailing in Chengdu that resulted in the deterioration of flour whiteness, Farinograph stability, and starch quality. Therefore, Chengdu was generally unfavorable for producing good quality wheat. However, significant variability among cultivars was observed in Chengdu, and Batavia, Dollar bird, and Tasman from Australia and Jing 411, Xiaoyan6, and Shaan 229 from China showed very good CSB quality under manual conditions, and Hartog, Batavia, Tasman, and Vulcan from Australia, and Jing 411 and Dongfeng 1from China were identified to confer good CSB quality under mechanized conditions. The wide range of CSB quality variations indicates that genetic improvement of CSB quality is possible in both environments. Protein content, gluten strength, and extensibility were positively associated with loaf volume and steamed bread elasticity. The relationship between gluten strength, extensibility, and appearance and stickiness were highly dependent on processing methods, i.e., negatively using a manual method and positively or slightly negatively using a mechanized process. Therefore, wheat quality requirement for CSB depends on CSB processing conditions. Medium protein content and medium-to-strong gluten strength with good extensibility is desirable for mechanized methods, but weak-to-medium gluten type for manual methods. High flour whiteness and RVA peak viscosity was found desirable for CSB quality regardless of the processing method used. Flour whiteness, falling number, and peak viscosity appeared to be more crucial in determining CSB quality in Chengdu, although protein content and Farinograph stability also contributed to appearance, elasticity, and stickiness. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Comparison of phenotypic and molecular marker-based classifications of hard red winter wheat cultivars

Genetic diversity is the basis for successful crop improvement and can be estimated by different methods. The objectives of this study were to estimate the genetic diversity of 30 ancestral to modern hard red winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars adapted to the Northern Great Plains using pedigree information, morphological traits (agronomic measurements from six environments), end-use quality traits (micro-quality assays on 50 g grain or milled flour samples for the six environments), and molecular markers (seed storage proteins separated using SDS-PAGE, 51 SSRs, and 23 SRAP DNA markers), and to determine the relationships of genetic distance estimates obtained from these methods. Relationships among diversity estimates were determined using simple (Pearson) and rank (Spearman) correlation coefficients between distance estimates and by clustering cultivars using genetic-distances for different traits. All methods found a wide range in genetic diversity. The genetic distance estimates based on pedigree had the highest values due to possible over-estimation arising from model assumptions. The genetic diversity estimates based on seed storage protein were lowest because they were the major determinants of end-use quality, which is a highly selected trait. In general, the diversity estimates from each of the methods were positively correlated at a low level with the exceptions of SRAP diversity estimates being independent of morphologic traits (simple correlation), SDS-PAGE, and SSR diversity estimates (rank correlation). However, SSR markers, thought to be among the most efficient markers for estimating genetic diversity, were most highly correlated with seed storage proteins. The procedures used to accurately estimate genetic diversity will depend largely upon the tools available to the researcher and their application to the breeding scheme.     

Old tall durum wheat cultivars are suited for dual-purpose utilization

The lateness, tallness and high vigour of old tall durum wheat cultivars could be advantageous for dual-purpose use and their high propensity for lodging should be reduced by grazing. A 3-year field trial was performed in Sardinia, Italy, in a typical Mediterranean environment. Crops of the durum wheat cultivar Senatore Cappelli were sown in October, and grazing was simulated by clipping half of the plots at the terminal spikelet stage of development. The forage biomass derived from clipping varied greatly between seasons (from 0.8 to 3.3 t ha⁻¹ dry matter) in response to the notable inter-seasonal variability in weather conditions. Cultivar Senatore Cappelli showed good recovery following clipping, with the ability to attain almost complete radiation interception well before anthesis. The high number of leaves that emerged after clipping might have contributed to this good recovery. Nevertheless, clipping reduced the dry matter produced by anthesis (16 t ha⁻¹ in clipped compared to 21 t ha⁻¹ in unclipped crops) as well as the final dry matter (DM_MAT) (19 t ha⁻¹ in clipped compared to 23 t ha⁻¹ in unclipped crops), although these differences disappeared when the clipped biomass was included. The lower lodging observed at anthesis in the clipped (21%) compared with unclipped crops (63%) likely reduced the difference between treatments. The lower DM_MAT of clipped treatments was reflected in a lower grain yield (GY) (3.4 t ha⁻¹ vs 4.2 t ha⁻¹ in the unclipped treatment). Clipping did not affect the amount of nitrogen present in the biomass, nitrogen uptake efficiency or radiation use efficiency. GY reduction after clipping was mediated by the reduction in spikes m⁻² and kernels m⁻² (KNO). Spike fertility was not affected by clipping, because the same amount of radiation was available for each spike (about 1 MJ). The period with reduced ground cover after clipping was reflected in an increased evaporation and reduced transpiration, which did not alter the total water used and increased the transpiration efficiency in terms of DM_MAT.Old tall durum wheat cultivars manifested good suitability for dual-purpose use in environments with low attainable yields because their low grain yield potential contributed to reducing the negative effects of clipping on GY. Their high straw yield and kernel protein percentage represented an advantage with respect to semi-dwarf cultivars.     

Assessment of glutenin and phenotypic diversity of Syrian durum wheat landraces in relation to their geographical origin

Summary Glutenin and phenotypic diversity within Syrian landraces composed of Triticum turgidu var. durum and T. aestivum was compared and related to some geographical and climatological characteristics.Glutenin diversity was determined on the basis of the composition of the glutenin fraction in kernels using Gregorius' level of population differentiation (209-1) — being a modified Nei's measure of gene diversity (H)- and the Shannon-Weaver variation index (I). These two indices were highly correlated. A total of five Glu-A1 and nine Glu-B1 alleles that were not yet described were found. The phenotypic diversity was determined on the basis of the coefficients of variation of ten phenological and morphological traits.A highly significant positive correlation coefficient between the glutenin and phenotypic diversity indices was found. Both diversity indices were positively correlated with annual precipitation, minimum January temperature and altitude of the collection site. There was a negative correlation between genetic diversity and the maximum August temperature. Correlation of site characteristics was stronger with the glutenin diversity indices than with the phenotypic diversity index.Further could be concluded that all common glutenin alleles can be found in the landraces from the western coastal and mountainous part of Syria.     

Transmission of somaclonal variation in wheat

Summary Transmission of somaclonal variation was studied in callus derived (SC1) plants of wheat, Triticum aestivum L. Second (SC2), third (SC3) and fourth (SC4) generations were compared with those obtained from embryo culture (E1-E4). SC2 generation had significantly lower grain yield (–37.3%), reduced thousand kernel weight (–7.8%) and shorter height (–2.1%) than that of E2, and included 5.7% seed-sterile and 15.0% partially seed-sterile plants. SC3 generation showed reduced yield (–12.6%), lower thousand kernel weight (–4.9%) and shorter plant height (–1.9%) than E3 generation. SC4 progeny of a short height, partially sterile SC1 variant included aberrant plants: a haploid, few aneuploids, mixoploids, some showing multiploidy, spindle abnormalities, multivalents, bridges and fragments, and tillers having supernumerary spikes with branched rachis. Somaclonal variation resulted from genome instability in callus, and likely involved transposable elements.     

Molecular and phenotypic characterization of Chinese wheat (Triticum aestivum) cultivars for resistance to Fusarium head blight

To identify excellent cultivars resistant to Fusarium head blight (FHB), 104 wheat cultivars were tested by single-flower inoculation using two prevalent pathogens from 2018 to 2020. Agronomic traits were also investigated. Six FHB-resistance quantitative trait loci (QTL), Fhb1, Fhb2, Fhb4, Fhb5, Fhb7 and Qfhb.crc-2D, have been assessed using previously reported DNA markers. A diagnostic marker has been used for Fhb1, and indicative markers linked to the other QTL were used. Results showed that (i) 12 (11.5%) cultivars were resistant to two pathogens in 3 years; among them, ‘Shengxuan 6’, ‘Wanhongbian 759’, ‘Yunong 903’ and ‘Yunong 901’ had good agronomic traits. (ii) Among cultivars with one resistance QTL, the severities of cultivars carrying Fhb1 and Qfhb.crc-2D were 2.2 and 2.8, respectively, whereas those of cultivars with Fhb2 or Fhb7 were 3.6. Among cultivars with two resistance QTL, the severities of cultivars with Fhb1 + Fhb4, Fhb1 + Fhb7 and Fhb4 + Fhb5 were 2.2, 3.0 and 3.6, respectively. The severity of five cultivars possessing three or four resistance QTL was below 2.5. Fhb1 and Qfhb.crc-2D showed better resistance effects than other resistance QTL.     

Nitrogen uptake and nitrogen harvest index in durum wheat cultivars varying in their grain protein concentration

Summary In a field experiment, plant (excluding roots) and grain nitrogen at harvest were estimated in 15 durum wheat cultivars varying in their grain protein concentration. They showed significant variation in grain yield, grain protein concentration, biological yield, total plant nitrogen at harvest and residual nitrogen in straw. Harvest index and nitrogen harvest index were calculated from this primary data. Nitrogen harvest index varied from 57 to 83%. Plant nitrogen showed significant positive correlation with biological yield, grain yield and grain protein yield, but the correlations with grain protein concentration, harvest index and nitrogen harvest index were not significant. Nitrogen harvest index was positively correlated with harvest index indicating that the distribution of N between straw and grain to a large extent, but not entirely, depends upon the partitioning of dry matter between the two. Grain protein concentration was neither correlated significantly to plant nitrogen nor to nitrogen harvest index.     

Expression and inheritance of tolerance to waterlogging stress in wheat

Approximately 10 million hectares of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) globally experience medium toserious waterlogging. The inheritance of waterloggingtolerance was determined in reciprocal crosses ofthree tolerant (Prl/Sara, Ducula and Vee/Myna), andtwo sensitive (Seri-82 and Kite/Glen) spring breadwheat lines. Parents, F1, F2, F3, and backcrossgenerations were studied under field conditions in Cd.Obregon, State of Sonora, Mexico. Flooding was appliedwhen plants were at the three-leaf and first-internodestages. Basins were drained after 40 days of flooding.Leaf chlorosis was used as a measure of waterloggingtolerance. The sensitive by sensitive cross, Seri-82 × Kite/Glen, showed the highest mean values forpercentage leaf chlorosis and area under chlorosisprogress curve (AUCPC), and the lowest mean values forplant height, biomass, grain yield, and kernel weight.The F3 of the cross between the two tolerant parentsDucula and Vee/Myna had the lowest mean values forpercentage leaf chlorosis and AUCPC, and the highestmean values for plant height, biomass, and grainyield. The expression of waterlogging tolerance wasnot influenced by a maternal effect. The F1 hybridswere intermediate for leaf chlorosis, indicating thattolerance was additive. Quantitative analysis alsoindicated that additive gene effects mainly controlledwaterlogging tolerance in these crosses. Segregationratios of F3 lines indicated that up to four genescontrolled waterlogging tolerance in these crosses,with two genes adequate to provide significanttolerance. Early-generation selection for tolerancewould be effective in these populations.     

Physiological responses of six bread wheat and durum wheat genotypes to water stress

Summary The responses of six wheat genotypes to water stress were analysed. Soil moisture (H), leaf water potential (_w), photosynthesis (P_N), stomatal resistance (r_s) and transpiration (T) were measured during a water stress. The genotypes investigated differed in their stress avoidance (_w-H relationship) and their stress tolerance (P_N-_w and r_s-_w relationships). The most important differences observed concern the mechanisms of tolerance at low leaf water potential: two varieties, Haurani 27 and Baalback, can then maintain a high photosynthetic activity. These observations are in agreement with the drought resistance characteristics already known for these genotypes. Possible applications to wheat breeding are considered