INHERITANCE OF POST-HARVEST SEED DORMANCY AND KERNEL COLOUR IN SPRING WHEAT LINES

Abstract

The inheritance of post-harvest seed dormancy was studied in F7 lines of a cross between Renown—a dormant red spring wheat, and Cascade—a non-dormant white spring wheat. The estimate of heritability of seed dormancy was 73 per cent. The inheritance of seed coat colour was controlled by three pairs of duplicate genes. Red seed coat colour was found to be associated with seed dormancy. All lines with white seed coat colour were non-dormant. The moisture content of the seed was found to influence seed dormancy. Although moisture affected the dormancy status of the seed, other factors appeared to be involved as significant differences between lines of red seed coat colour were obtained at similar moisture levels. It is postulated that the degree of seed dormancy is controlled by the multiple genes which govern seed colour. The inheritance of phenol colour reaction of the seed was monogenic, and no association was found between seed dormancy and phenol colour reaction.