Origin of the blue-aleurone gene in Sebesta Blue wheat genetic stocks and a protocol for its use in apomixis screening

Tracing the pedigree of the blue aleurone locus in the Sebesta Blue wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genetic stocks has proven difficult. There is limited information on the original intergeneric crosses that moved the blue-aleurone trait from Thinopyrum ponticum (Podp.) Z.W. Liu & R.-C. Wang into wheat. Blue Baart, an unregistered genetic stock developed at the University of California-Davis, was the direct parental source for the blue-aleurone trait in Sebesta Blue. Its wheat pedigree is unclear because of the introgressing, bulk population technique by which it was developed from the original intergeneric wheat X Thinopyrum cross. In situ probing with total genomic DNA in the spring and winter Sebesta Blue lines showed a 4EL Thinopyrum translocation and numerous unidentified chromosomal rearrangements in the two winter lines. A protocol is presented for use of the Sebesta Blue genetic stocks for apomixis studies.