Abstract
Preharvest sprouting (PHS) can be a serious problem in western Canada resulting in economically important yield and grade losses for wheat producers. Improved PHS resistance is an important breeding objective and wheat breeders require effective and reliable methods to select for PHS resistance. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether differences exist between field and artificial weathering in the evaluation of PHS resistance in breeding lines and to determine whether sprouting scores are a good estimator of PHS resistance when compared to Hagberg falling numbers. Results suggest that both field and artificial weathering can be effectively used to screen for PHS resistance in wheat breeding lines. Although in this study, field weathering resulted in greater sprouting damage than artificial weathering, the ability to control conditions may make artificial weathering the more reliable test for PHS resistance in a breeding program. Mean sprouting scores greater than 7.5 consistently identified lines with low PHS resistance; hence, sprouting scores can be used to discard the most sprouting susceptible lines. However, falling numbers appear to be more reliable to evaluate the PHS resistance of advanced lines.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Derera, N.F., 1989. The effects of preharvest rain. In: N.F. Derera (Ed.), Preharvest Sprouting in Cereals, pp. 2–14. CRC Press Inc., Boca Raton, USA.
Hagberg, S., 1960. A rapid method for determining alpha-amylase activity. Cereal Chem 37: 218–222.
Hagberg, S., 1961. Note on a simple rapid method for determining alpha-amylase activity. Cereal Chem 38: 202–203.
Kruger, J.E., 1989. Biochemistry of preharvest sprouting in cereals. In: N.F. Derera (Ed.), Preharvest Sprouting in Cereals, pp. 61–84. CRC Press Inc., Boca Raton, USA.
Nagao, S., 1995. Detrimental effect of sprout damage on wheat flour products. In: K. Noda and D.J. Mares (Eds.), Seventh symposium on preharvest sprouting in cereals 1995, pp. 3–8. Center for Academic Societies, Osaka, Japan.
SAS Institute Inc., 2000. SAS/STATuser's guide, version 8. Volume 1. SAS Institute Inc. Cary, USA.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Humphreys, D., Noll, J. Methods for characterization of preharvest sprouting resistance in a wheat breeding program. Euphytica 126, 61–65 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1019671622356
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1019671622356