Homozygous 1B and 1 BL/1 RS Chromosome Substitutions in Triticum aestivum and T. turgidum cultivars

Abstract

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties with the 1BL/1RS chromosome translocation exhibit a major role in agricultural production, partly attributed to their high yield advantage. The evidence as to whether the 1RS segment may have genetically contributed to this yield advantage has not been unequivocally demonstrated due to lack of appropriate testor germplasm. This analysis now appears possible through the testing of a bread wheat (T. aestivum L. cv. Seri 82) and a durum wheat variety (T. turgidum L. cv. Altar 84) in which their homozygous 1BL/1RS and 1B chromosomes have been substituted by 1B and 1BL/1RS chromosomes respectively. Heterozygote (1BL/1RS, 1B) F1 and backcross derivatives were advanced by eight backcrosses respectively to Seri 82 or Altar 84 with an ultimate selfing to obtain homozygous 1B Seri 82 and 1BL/1RS Altar 84 derivatives. Diagnostic procedure for tracking the 1BL/1RS chromosomes in heterozygous and homozygote derivatives utilized Giemsa C-or N-banding differential staining, electrophoretic biochemical assays and FISH.