Summary
Sensitivity to GA in non-Gai genome winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars was investigated to determine magnitude of variation of the trait, its association with other traits, and effects of geographical location of production. α-Amylase enzyme activity was measured before and after treatment with gibberellic acid in 18 cultivars grown at one location and in five cultivars grown at six locations. Dye-labeled starch and agar-starch media procedures were used for the first and second experiments, respectively. α-Amylase activity differed significantly among the 18 cultivars after germination in water, germination in GA, and in absolute and relative sensitivity to GA. Cultivars that reacted similarly to GA had some common ancestors in their pedigrees, and α-amylase activity and sensitivity to GA were significantly negatively associated with seed weight. α-Amylase activity differed between tall and semi-dwarf cultivars in the second experiment, but not in the first experiment. The magnitude of variation in α-amylase activity and its relationship to preharvest sprouting susceptibility of the cultivars suggested that the trait can be modified to improve seed dormancy. Significant interactions between cultivar responses to GA and geographical location of grain production suggested that selection should be carried out in several environments.
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Contribution no. 81-162-j, Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University, Manhattan KS 66506, USA.
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McCrate, A.J., Nielsen, M.T., Paulsen, G.M. et al. Gibberellic acid effects on germination and α-amylase activity of winter wheats. Euphytica 30, 875–880 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00038818
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00038818