Relation of the Club Gene with Yield and Yield Components of Near‐Isogenic Wheat Lines1

Abstract

We studied the effects of the C locus for club and lax spike and the associated linkage blocks on yield, test weight, and yield components (culm number, kernel weight, and kernels per spike) using near‐isogenic wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) lines. The lines were obtained in two backcross‐derived genetic backgrounds. Populations included ‘Suwon 92’/8*‘Omar’ (club background) and ‘Albit’/7*‘Burt’ (lax background). The C locus directly influenced test weight and kernel weight. Culm number showed inconsistency between the two spike types. Added N increased yields of both spike types; in one family club lines responded more than lax lines. The N level ✕ spike type interactions were generally nonsignificant for yield, test weight, and yield components in both backgrounds. Location differences influenced yield for both spike types, but their interaction proved nonsignificant. In the Omar background, kernels per spike were closely linked with the C gene, but this linkage was broken when the C gene of Albit was transferred to Burt. Generally the C locus did not affect yield per se. Observed yield differences apparently reflected linkage blocks closely and oppositely associated with the C locus in the two genetic backgrounds.