SELECTION OF HIGH YIELDING WHEAT LINES FROM IRRADIATED COMPOSITES

Abstract

In order to obtain high grain yielding lines of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) from two irradiated composites derived from the variety Salamanca S75, 191 plants in generation M9 were selected by their high values in tillering, spike and grain size. In the Winter season of 1988-1989, these lines were evaluated in a two replications experiment at Roque, Gto; in the Winter seasons of 1990-1991, 1991-1992 and 1992-1993 at the same location, the best three lines were evaluated in four experiments. Results of the 1988-1989 season showed large variation among lines for the evaluated traits; i.e., grain yield ranged from 2592 to 9609 kg ha-1. The best three lines yielded 62, 59 and 56 % more than Salamanca S75, respectively, due to gains in tillering, grain number and weight per spike, and in grain size and weight. The same performance was obtained in the last four experiments, but in less proportion. Grain quality analysis of two lines was similar to that of Salamanca S75.