Associated changes in the attributes of wheat populations mass-selected for seed size

Abstract

Evaluation of wheat populations mass-selected for seed size was made [or agronomical and quality characters in F2 and FQ generations of the crosses. Estimates of means and variances for these characters and their correlation with seed size were obtained to study the correlated response to selection for seed size. The expression of quality characters (test weight, milling extract, wheat protein, flour protein, and kernel hardness) was found to be independent of the expression of seed size in all the crosses studied. In the case of agronomic characters, however, the crosses behaved differently so far as the correlated response was concerned. It was concluded that in the crosses studied, mass selection for seed size could be practiced with certain associated advantages and without adverse response for most of the characters of economic significance in wheat.