Inheritance of grain protein and lysine in crosses of three high-protein wheats (triticum aestivum L.)

Three high-protein wheats, April Bearded (C.I. 7337), Atlas 66 (C.I. 12561), and NapHal (P.I. 176217) were crossed in diallel fashion without reciprocals. Spaced plants of the parents, F1, F2, and backcross populations for each cross were grown at Yuma, Arizona and Fort Collins, Colorado in 1973. Phenotypic correlations of protein and lysine with several traits were made. Generally, negative and significant correlations were found between protein and plant yield and protein and kernel weight. The correlations existed in nonsegregating as well as segregating populations. The magnitude of the correlations was highly variable with most being less than -0.50. Protein content increased as shriveling increased within nonsegregating and segregating populations. Protein content was inversely related to lysine (percent of protein). Correlations between protein and lysine percent on a dry weight basis were positive and significant. Small inconsistent correlations were detected between lysine (percent of protein) and plant yield, kernel weight, kernel size, and shriveling. Mean phenotypic performance of genotypes was inconsistent for protein and lysine across locations. Genotype by location interactions were highly significant for protein and lysine.