Protein and Lysine Contents of Endosperm and Bran of the Parents and Progenies of Crosses of Common Wheat1

Abstract

Grain samples from parent and progeny rows of the common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crosses, ‘Nap Hal’/ ‘Atlas 66’ and Nap Hal/‘Super X’, were fractionated into their starchy endosperm and bran components to determine the within‐kernel site of their variation in protein and lysine concentration. Nap Hal and Atlas 66 are highprotein wheats. Nap Hal also has elevated grain lysine content. Super X has average protein and lysine content. Transgressive segregation existed both for high and low endosperm protein concentration among the F5 progeny rows of Nap Hal/Atlas 66. Low‐protein progeny rows had endosperm protein percentages that were 3 to 5 percentage points lower than the parental mean (19.5%). High‐protein progeny lines were 2 to 4 percentage points higher than the parental mean. Nap Hal and some of the progeny rows were 5 percentage points higher in bran protein content than Atlas 66. Endosperm and bran protein percentages of Nap Hal/Super X F4 progeny were within the parental range. Some progeny rows had endosperm and bran protein concentrations equal to those of Nap Hal. Variation among the progeny rows for endosperm and bran lysine (% of protein) concentrations was within the range of variability of the replicated parental rows. Variation for grain protein content among the progeny rows of both crosses was due to variation for both endosperm and bran protein content. Variation for grain lysine (% of sample) among the Nap Hal/Atlas 66 progeny rows was due primarily to variation in endosperm and bran protein content with endosperm and bran lysine (% of protein) being of lesser importance.