Gpc-B1 mediated grain protein enhancement in wheat is compatible with high grain weight at moderated yield thresholds Singh Charan*, Srivastava Puja1, Sharma Achla1, Kaur Harinderjeet1, Sohu V. S.1, Bains N. S.1 ICAR-Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research, Karnal, 132 001, Haryana 1Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 141 004 *Corresponding author's e-mail: n_charansingh@hotmail.com
Online published on 12 September, 2019. Abstract A set of 94 BC2F7 lines (BC RILs), selected for presence of Gpc-B1 gene from the cross Glupro/3*PBW568 were evaluated for morpho-physiological characters including yield and its components, grain protein content, grain zinc and iron concentration for two seasons. Gpc-B1 mediated grain protein enhancement as influenced by combination of other agronomic traits was studied through inter-trait correlations. Grain protein content was positively correlated with plant height (r=0.552**, 0.676**) and 1000-grain weight (r=0.257**, 0.287**) in both years. Lines with high yield conferring combinations of yield components showed lower grain protein content. The results showed that there were no constraints for combining grain weight with Gpc-B1 mediated proteins enhancement provided yield moderation can be exercised. Grain protein contents showed significant and positive correlation with grain zinc (0.557**, 0.764**) and iron concentration (0.542**, 0.595**) indicating that Gpc-B1 mediated enhancement in protein content and not just presence of Gpc-B1 was necessary. Zinc and iron concentration were also positively associated with each other (0.567**, 0.648**). Top Keywords Triticum aestivum, back cross RILs, inter-trait correlations, nutritional quality, grain zinc and iron. Top |