In vitro and in vivo screening for cold tolerance in winter × spring wheat-derived doubled haploids following the wheat × maize system

Abstract

Seventy-eight doubled haploid (DH) lines, derived from 21 elite and diverse winter × spring wheat F 1 hybrids, following the wheat × maize system, were screened along with the parental genotypes under in vitro and in vivo conditions for cold tolerance. Under in vitro conditions, the 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) test was used to characterize the genotypes for cold tolerance. Based on the TTC test, only one doubled haploid, DH 69, was characterized as cold-tolerant, seven DH and five winter wheat parents were moderately tolerant, while the rest were susceptible. Analysis of variance under in vivo conditions also indicated the presence of sufficient genetic variability among the genotypes (DH lines + parents) for all the yield-contributing traits under study. The correlation and path analysis studies underlined the importance of indirect selection for tillers per plant, harvest index and grains per spike in order to improve grain yield. It was also concluded that selection should not be practised for grain weight per spike as it would adversely affect the grain yield per plant. When comparing the field performance of the genotypes with the in vitro screening parameters, it was concluded that in addition to the TTC test, comprising a single parameter, other physiological and biochemical in vitro parameters should be identified, which clearly distinguish between cold-tolerant and susceptible genotypes and also correlate well with their performance under field conditions.