Genetic analysis of stem solidness in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Abstract

Inheritance of stem solidness was studied in common wheat using three crosses involving a solid stemmed genotype Selection 1093-1 and hollow stemmed stocks, HD 2667, NP 12 and selection 111. The internodes of two F1 hybrids were solid completely filled with pith, while one hybrid produced internodes with partially filled pith. Stem solidness in selection 1093-1 is a dominant trait inherited monogenically. However, incomplete dominance of solidness was also recorded in the cross Sel. 1093-1 x Sel. 111. The presence of an epistatic gene for hollowness over gene governing solidness of stem reported to be present in D genome of hollow stemmed cultivars is negated. Differences in means between solid and hollow stemmed true breeding and segregating F3 families were non-significant. However, significant mean difference in grain number/main spike were noted in true breeding solid and hollow families, whereas in segregating families the two means did not differ significantly. It is presumed that significant differences in grain number/main spike in true breeding solid and hollow families may be due to inadvertent selection which favored high grain number in hollow families. The identification of single gene governing solidness of culm may be a useful marker trait for genetic studies and in breeding for saw fly resistance since solidness of culm does not affect agronomic traits. The gene symbol Sc is proposed for solidness of culm in wheat.