Inheritance of late maturity α-amylase in wheat

Summary

Two wheat cultivars that consistently show high levels of grain α-amylase at harvest ripeness, in the absence of preharvest sprouting, were crossed with a control, low α-amylase cultivar, and F₁, F₂ and BC₁ populations were developed. Grain of these populations was analysed for α-amylase activity at harvest ripeness. Distribution and segregation patterns were consistent with control at a single locus with high α-amylase the recessive allele. This mode of inheritance would make it extremely difficult to differentiate homozygous low α-amylase lines from heterozygotes (low α-amylase phenotype but carriers of high α-amylase) and has important implications for wheat breeders. High α-amylase, termed late maturity α-amylase, was not linked with the awned inhibitor gene, B2, located on the long arm of chromsome 6B.