Enhancing the identification of genetic loci and transgressive segregants for preharvest sprouting resistance in a durum wheat population

Preharvest sprouting reduces grain quality and lowers grade. Characterization of preharvest sprouting resistance is important in selection in breeding for transgressive segregation and understanding the genetics of the trait for identifying QTL. Methods of measuring dormancy and other factors contributing to preharvest sprouting resistance are varied. The objective of this study was to demonstrate the requirement of multiple methods of measurement over multiple durations of germination to maximize understanding of transgressive segregation and QTL for preharvest sprouting resistance within a segregating durum wheat population grown in multiple environments. Ninety-eight durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum) recombinant inbred lines (RIL) from a cross of a minimally dormant line, Sentry, by a moderately dormant line, Kyle, and controls were grown in replicated field tests in 1996, 1997 and 1998 and in a growth chamber trial in 1998. Preharvest sprouting was measured from intact spikes as sprouting index or from hand threshed grain as germination index (GI), germination resistance (GR), and percent germination (PG). The threshed grain measures were evaluated using counts at 7, 14 and 21 days intervals from the start of germination. Correlations performed on the measure type and duration using lines within the RIL population showed some discontinuity across environments, type of measure and duration of measure, with counts at extended intervals for PG producing the lowest correlations. The number of transgressive segregant lines varied with environment, duration and type of measure. Different QTL were identified by different types of measures and duration of counts. GI calculated for 7, 14 and 21 days germination count intervals and GR calculated for 21 days identified a highly significant QTL on chromosome1A (QPhsd.spa.-1A.1). GR calculated for 7 days identified a highly significant QTL on 2A (QPhsd.spa.-2A.1) in two different environments, and GI calculated for 21 days and PG at 7 days identified the same highly significant QTL on chromosome 7B (QPhsd.spa.-7B.1). The results indicated that multiple measures and durations of measure intervals must be applied to results collected across different environments to maximize the identification of QTL and transgressive segregants of the population segregating for preharvest sprouting resistance.