Summary
In a study designed to investigate the nature and basis of the relationships between grain yield (GY) and grain protein concentration (GBC) in common wheat, 11 populations, including 4 homozygous-homogeneous and 7 heterozygous-heterogeneous populations, were evaluated in a space planted and a solid seeded trial. Analysis of yield and protein data from each population revealed that phenotypic and environmental correlations between GY and GPC were negative and highly significant, whereas genetic correlation was significant in only one of 7 segregating populations studied. These results suggested that the inverse relationships between GY and GPC, although phenotypically real, were not caused by genetic factors. It would appear that environmental factors, source-sink interactions, and dilution of protein by non-protein compounds were the major agents that caused undesirable associations between the two traits.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aamodt O. S. & J. H. Torrie, 1935. Studies on the inheritance of and the relation between kernel texture and protein content in several spring wheat crosses. Can. J. Res. C. 13: 202–219.
Al-Jibouri H. A., P. A. Miller & H. F. Robinson, 1958. Genotypic and environmental variances and covariances in an upland cotton cross of interspecific origin. Agron. J. 50: 633–636. Ausemus, E. R., E. M. McNeal & J. W. Schmidt, 1967. Genetics and Inheritance. In: K.S. Quisenberry & L. P. Reitz (Ed.), Wheat and wheat improvement. American Soc. Agron. Madison, Wisconsin.
Ausemus E. R., F. M. McNeal & J. W. Schmidt, 1967. Genetics and inheritance: In: K. S. Quisenberry & L. P. Reitz (Ed.), Wheat and wheat improvement. American Soc. Agron. Madison, Wisconsin.
Baker R. J., V. M. Bendelow & M. L. Kaufmann, 1968. Inheritance of and inter-relationships among yield and several quality traits in common wheat. Crop. Sci. 8: 725–728.
Bartlett M. S., 1947. The use of transformations. Biometrics 3: 39–52.
Bhatia C. R. & R. Rabson, 1976. Bio-energetic considerations in cereal breeding for protein improbement. Science 194: 1418–1421.
Dyck P. L. & R. J. Baker, 1975. Variation and covariation of agronomic and quality traits in two spring wheat populations. Crop Sci. 15: 161–165.
Frey, K. J., 1951. The improvement of quantity and quality of cereal grain. In: Alternative source of protein for animal nutrition. Natl. Acad. Sci.-Natl. Res. Council Pub.
Halloran G. M., 1975. Genetic analysis of grain protein percentage in wheat. Theor. and Appl. Genet. 46: 79–86.
Johnson V. A., A. F. Dreier & P. H. Grabouski, 1973. Yield and protein responses to nitrogen fertilizer of two winter wheat varieties differing in inherent protein content of their grain. Agron. J. 65: 259–263.
Lerner, I. M., 1950. Population genetics and animal improvement. Cambridge U. Press.
Lelley J., 1976. Wheat breeding, theory and practice. Akademia Kiado, Budapest.
Lush J. L., 1948. The genetics of populations. Iowa State U., Ames.
McNeal F. H., M. A. Berg, C. F. McGuire, V. R. Stewart & D. E. Baldridge, 1972. Grain and plant nitrogen relationships in eight spring wheat crosses, Triticum aestivum L. Crop Sci. 12: 599–602.
McNeal F. M., C. F. McGuire & M. A. Berg, 1978. Recurrent selection for grain protein content in spring wheat. Crop Sci. 18: 779–782.
Middleton G. K., C. E. Bode & B. B. Boyles, 1954. A comparison of the quantity and quality of protein in certain wheat varieties of soft wheat. Agron. J. 46: 500–502.
Mienzan Kouame, E. G. Heyne & K. F. Finney, 1977. Genetic and environmental effects on the grain protein content in wheat. Crop Sci. 17: 591–593.
Mode C. F. & H. R. Robinson, 1959. Pleitropism and the genetic variance and covariance. Biometrics 15: 518–573.
Pandey Shivaji & E. T. Gritton, 1975. Genotypic and phenotypic variances and correlations in peas. Crop Sci. 15: 353–356.
Pepe John F. & Robert E. Heiner, 1975. Plant height, protein percentage, and yield relationships in spring wheat. Crop Sci. 15: 793–797.
Steel R. G. D. & J. H. Torrie, 1960. Principles and procedures of statistics. McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York.
Stuber C. W., V. A. Johnson & J. W. Schmidt, 1962. Grain protein content and its relationships to other plant and seed characteristics in the parents and progeny of a cross of Triticum aestivum L. Crop Sci. 2: 506–508.
Worzella W. W., 1942. Inheritance and inter-relationship of components of quality, cold resistance, and morphological characters in wheat hybrids. J. Agric. Res. 65: 501–522.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Contribution No. of the Department of Plant Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G2P5
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kibite, S., Evans, L.E. Causes of negative correlations between grain yield and grain protein concentration in common wheat. Euphytica 33, 801–810 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00021906
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00021906