Skip to main content
ARS Home » Plains Area » Fargo, North Dakota » Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center » Sunflower and Plant Biology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #193755
Title: REGISTRATION OF UC66049 TRITICUM AESTIVUM BLUE ALEURONE GENETIC STOCK

Author
item QUALSET, C - UNIV. CALIFORNIA-DAVIS
item SOLIMAN, K - ALABAMA A&M UNIV.
item Jan, Chao-Chien
item DVORAK, J - UNIV. CALIFORNIA-DAVIS
item MCGUIRE, P - UNIV. CALIFORNIA-DAVIS
item VOGT, H - UNIV. CALIFORNIA-DAVIS

Submitted to: Crop Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/30/2004
Publication Date: 1/1/2005
Citation: Qualset, C.O., Soliman, K.M., Jan, C.C., Dvorak, J., Mcguire, P.E., Vogt, H.E. 2005. Registration of UC66049 Triticum aestivum blue aleurone genetic stock. Crop Science. 45:432.

Interpretive Summary: Blue aleurone (ba) is found in the endosperm of several species related to wheat, including Elytrigia (Agropyron). One blue aleurone hexaploid wheat plant with 2n=42 chromosomes was identified in orgenies of crosses between blue addition line with 2n=44 with hexaploid wheat with 2n=42. This line was designated UC66049 and was shown to be a translocation line. Blue aleurone may be a useful marker in hybrid wheat studies and in other uses.

Technical Abstract: Blue aleurone (ba) is found in the endosperm of several species related to wheat, including Elytrigia (Agropyron). C. A. Suneson’s perennial wheat development program at Davis, CA included some blue aleurone materials which appeared in Wheat Composite Cross I. Blue aleurone wheat plants with 2n=44 were selected from wheat CCI, with the blue aleurone character contributed by Elytrigia pontica (Podp.) Holub 2n=10x=70 (syn. Agropyron elongatum (Host) P.B.). One of these lines (SH 152-2) was crossed to T. aestivum L. 'Sonora 64'. About 125 lines were initiated in the F2 generation and 75 were still available at the F11. Blue aleurone and nonblue aleurone isolines from these materials were selected. Of the 20 blue aleurone plants examined for mitotic chromosome number, 19 had 2n=44 chromosomes, and one had 2n=42 chromosomes. This line was designated UC66049, and was subsequently shown to be a translocation line. The long-arm of chromosome 4B was replaced by an arm of the Elytrigia chromosome that carried a gene for blue aleurone. The translocation event most likely originated from simultaneous misdivision of univalents and subsequent joining of the wheat chromosome 4B short-arm with the Elytrigia chromosome arm. It was also concluded that the Elytrigia chromosome involved was homoeologous to chromosome 4el1 of Elytrigia pontica, isolated by R. Larson at Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, also known to carry a blue aleurone gene. Field trials with the blue and nonblue isolines were conducted. UC66049 (blue) was comparable in grain yield to its nonblue counterpart. Its fertility was good, but grain yield level was lower than extant wheat varieties used in California. In contrast, the blue 2n=44 lines were generally lower yielding than the nonblue 2n=42 lines and the grain protein content of the blue lines was considerably higher than nonblue lines. The elevated protein effect was not found in the blue aleurone translocation line (2n=42). Blue aleurone may be a useful marker in hybrid wheat studies and in other uses.