Post-sexual cycle regrowth and grain yield inThinopyrum elongatum × Triticum aestivumamphiploids

Abstract

With 4 tables Abstract Perennial wheat is emerging as a potential long-term response to agroecological problems resulting from soil erosion. We conducted field scale trials of 31 F5 (2005–2006) and five F6 (2006–2007) amphiploid breeding lines derived from Thinopyrum elongatum/Triticum aestivum (cv. ‘Chinese Spring’)//T. aestivum (cv. ‘Madsen’) crosses. Here, we report results on post-sexual cycle regrowth (PSCR) and grain yield in the amphiploid lines and two annual wheat cultivars from three locations in Washington State, USA. Per cent plants per plot exhibiting PSCR varied significantly among genotypes and ranged from 18% to 81% (μ = 45%) in the amphiploids, with no PSCR apparent in the annual cultivars. The mean grain yields of the amphiploid lines were 632, 2086 and 2226 kg/ha at each location; approximately 44% (range = 20–93%) of the annual wheat. Absence of genotype × environment interactions for PSCR suggests that selection for broad adaptation of the PSCR trait across locations and years would be possible. No relationship existed between grain yield and regrowth among the lines exhibiting PSCR, indicating potential for simultaneous selection of these traits.