Comparison of Selection Methods for the Development of White‐Seeded Lines from Red × White Soft Winter Wheat Crosses

Abstract

There has been increasing interest in developing soft white winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars for areas that have traditionally grown only soft red winter wheat. To develop white wheat segregates in a red wheat breeding program requires deliberate breeding decisions. The objectives of this study were to assess differences in agronomic, disease, and milling and baking quality traits between red and white progeny in 11 red × white crosses and to determine the optimal time and method for identifying white segregates from red × white crosses. Red and white progeny from the 11 populations were evaluated in replicated experiments at three locations in 2005–2006. White progeny produced significantly (p < 0.05) lower grain yields than red progeny in two of five environments studied. Deoxynivalenol level was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in white than in red progeny in the three environments in which it was measured. Flour yield, flour lactic acid solvent retention capacity, and softness equivalent were significantly (p < 0.05) lower for white progeny than for red progeny. To determine the optimal generation for selection of white lines, early‐generation bulk selection was compared with single seed descent in three populations at two locations. Although there were significant (p < 0.05) differences between selection methods within populations, neither breeding method was consistently superior across the three populations. Simulated selection of superior white lines based on agronomic and milling and baking quality showed no significant differences between the selection methods.