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Wheat Information Service
Number 85: 31-34 (1997)
Research article
Agronomic performance of plant height
near-isolines of Nugaines wheat
R E. Allan
Wheat Genetics, Quality, Physiology and Disease Research Unit,
USDA-ARS, PO Box 646420, WSU, Pullman, WA 99164-6420
Summary
Semidwarf wheat production escalated in the U. S. Pacific Northwest
after the development of Gaines and Nugaines. Nugaines replaced
Gaines and became widely grown because of its high yield
capacity and heavy test weight. This study examines the
contribution of semidwarf genes (Rht1 and Rht2) and
background genes to the agronomic performance of Nugaines. Near
isogenic lines (NILs) representing each of the four possible
genotypes of the Rht1 and Rht2 loci were selected from
a backcross-derived population of Chugoku, 81/5*Nugaines; Nugaines
has Rht2 while Chugoku 81 has Rht1. The agronomic
performance of the four sets of NILs revealed that the Nugaines
genetic background is uniquely compatible with the Rht1 and
Rht2 genes. The three semidwarf genotypes had mean yields of
22 to 36% greater than the nonsemidwarf genotype. In other genetic
backgrounds, yield increases associated with semidwarf genotypes
averaged 2 to 16% greater than nonsemidwarf NILs. Contrary to results
with other genetic backgrounds, the Rht2 gene did not
significantly lower test weight in the Nugaines genetic background.
Test weight received special emphasis in the breeding program of O.A.
Vogel because it affects market price and milling quality.
Introduction
Semidwarf wheat production began in North America in 1961 with
the release of Gaines (Vogel 1964). Gaines is a Norin 10 derived
semidwarf. The transition to semidwarf wheat production, especially
in the U.S. Pacific Northwest was rapid and had major economic impact
for the region (Patterson and Allan 1981; Dalrymple 1980). While
Gaines was the first semidwarf variety to be grown, its sister line,
Nugaines , released in 1965 had even greater impact because it had
improved quality, stripe rust resistance, and higher test weight
(Vogel and Peterson 1974). Nugaines was the most widely grown soft
white winter wheat variety in the U.S. Pacific Northwest (PNW) for
over 10 years. It is estimated that semidwarf wheat increased PNW
wheat production by 30%. This study attempts to determine the
contribution of Norin 10-derived semidwarf gene(s) to yield and other
agronomic characteristics of Nugaines.
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