Analysis of spaced-plant and micro-plot performance for yield-related traits in octoploid and hexaploid primary triticales

Summary

Twenty-nine primary triticales (x Triticosecale Wittmack), derived from homozygous, uniform wheat and rye inbreds, were evaluated (i) to assess wheat, rye and interaction effects for yield-related characters, (ii) to estimate correlations between these characters, and (iii) to investigate the possibility of predicting micro-plot performance from early spaced-plant tests. The triticales (12 octoploid, 17 hexaploid) were tested under space-planting and in micro-plots in three-replicate, randomized block designs in 1983 and 1984, respectively. In general, hexaploid triticales performed significantly better than octoploids. Strong wheat and wheat x rye interaction effects were found, making it difficult to predict the performance of primary triticales from their constituent parental genotypes. At both ploidy levels under space-planting kernel weight per spike showed significant positive correlations with spikelets per spike, kernels per spikelet, and 1000-kernel weight. No significant associations were detected between spaced-plant and micro-plot performance for octoploids, indicating severe disorders at this ploidy level. In hexaploid triticales spikes per plant, kernel weight per spike, and kernels per spikelet observed in spaced-plants appeared to be useful indicators of grain yield in micro-plots.