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Hybrid dwarfness in wheat

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Abstract

Hybrid dwarfness is the phenomenon that after crossing of normal genotypes dwarfs are obtained in the F1 or not before the F2-generation. The literature on hybrid dwarfness in wheat is critically discussed. A new hypothesis on its genetic basis is given, taking McMillan's (1937) as a starting point. Dwarfness is assumed to be determined by the additive interaction of three genes D 1, D 2 and D 3, differing in dominance relations and in quantitative contribution to the dwarf phenotype.

Three dwarf types are described. Type 1-dwarfs are dwarf during their whole life cycle and normally do not produce seeds. Type 2-dwarfs start as normal seedlings, become dwarfs while tillering and die dwarfs; some produce seeds, others do not. Type 3-dwarfs emerge as normal seedlings, become dwarfs during the tillering stage, but after some time they start to shoot and develop into nearly or even completely normal plants; in the F2 the proportion of dwarfs decreases during the growing season. The occurrence and genetic basis of the three dwarf types is discussed.

On the basis of their genotype 315 varieties and lines are divided into six genotypeclasses. Over 1000 intra- and inter-class crosses were made and F1, F2, F3, and BC studied. Also some triple crosses and crosses with pure breeding dwarfs were investigated. In general the results obtained fit the hypothesis. Unstable ratios involving type 3-dwarfs are discussed separately.

Linkage of the dwarf gene D 2 and the necrosis gene Ne 2 (both on chromosome 2B (XIII) was apparent from F2-data and from results of a triple cross in which both forms of hybrid weakness occurred. Crossing-over between D 2 and Ne 2 is calculated to be 34%.

Methods are outlined to use hybrid dwarfness in a wheat breeding programme. The possible incompleteness of the three-gene hypothesis and the variability of dwarfness are discussed and finally some suggestions are made for future research.

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  1. Institute of Plant Breeding, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    J. G. Th. Hermsen

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Hermsen, J.G.T. Hybrid dwarfness in wheat. Euphytica 16, 134–162 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00043448

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