GENETIC-ASPECTS OF PROTEIN-LEVELS AND DEVELOPMENT OF 2 NEW GENETIC-MARKERS FOR DURUM-WHEAT

Crosses were made between two tetraploid wheats, Ensat-508, an Ethiopian line with a high percentage of protein, and 'Opale', a French cultivar obtained in our laboratory. Reciprocal F1, F2, and backcrosses and the parents were grown in a greenhouse, and the heredity of percentage of grain protein was determined. Reciprocal effects were not significant; narrow- and broad-sense heritabilities were rather high (37.89 and 69.83%, respectively). Ensat-508 has brown, hairy (i.e., with a long pilose brush at the apical end) kernels whereas 'Opale' has amber, glabrous kernels. Our studies show that hairiness of kernels is controlled by a gene with intermediate dominance (proposed designation: Hgr) and brown color of kernels by a dominant gene (temporary designation: Br). Considering the high correlations observed between these two characters and the percentage of grain protein, both Hgr and Br genes should be considered as new genetic markers for breeding programs. Selection for hairy kernel in progenies should improve the percentage of protein.