Genetic control of spikelet number per ear with particular reference to rate of spikelet initiation in hexaploid wheat,Triticum aestivum L.em.Thell.Thell.

Summary Inheritance of spikelet number per ear and rate of spikelet initiation in wheat (Triticum aestivum L. em. Thell.) was studied in the land race spring wheats, 8–23 and 8–27 from Afghanistan, under controlled temperature and photoperiod. Spikelet number per ear was found to be under simple genetic control with dominance for high spikelet number. It is suggested that the gene determining spikelet number does so by determining the rate of spikelet initiation.