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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 60(12)

Improving the accuracy of selection for late maturity α-amylase in wheat using multi-phase designs

D. G. Butler A D , M. K. Tan B and B. R. Cullis C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Primary Industries & Fisheries, Department of Employment, Economic Development & Innovation, 203 Tor Street, Toowoomba, Qld 4350, Australia.

B NSW Department of Primary Industries, Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, Private Mail Bag 8, Camden, NSW 2570, Australia.

C NSW Department of Primary Industries, Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institute, Private Mail Bag, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2650, Australia.

D Corresponding author. Email: david.butler@deedi.qld.gov.au

Crop and Pasture Science 60(12) 1202-1208 https://doi.org/10.1071/CP09124
Submitted: 21 April 2009  Accepted: 21 August 2009   Published: 23 November 2009

Abstract

The assessment of grain defect traits is assuming greater importance in wheat germplasm selection. Late maturity α-amylase is one such characteristic that renders wheat unsuitable for high value end products, even though the grain may appear sound. Phenotyping defect traits typically involves a multi-phase process, where genetic material for assay has been affected by non-genetic sources of variation in one or more previous linked stages of experimentation or preparation. The adoption of appropriate statistical design and analysis methods in these situations is, however, not widespread. Substantial sources of non-genetic variation were identified in the analysis of a designed experiment to measure late maturity α-amylase expression, indicating the potential for improved selection decisions. A simulation study based on these results suggests that significant gains over current methods in the accuracy of phenotyping this grain defect can be achieved with sound multi-phase statistical design and analysis techniques. Although restricted in scope, the simulation also indicates that a considerable increase in estimated heritability could be expected from the proposed methodology.


Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Grains Research and Development Corporation of Australia and the Value Added Wheat CRC, Australia (now terminated). We thank Neil Coombes (Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institute) for the elegant experimental design of the glasshouse phase of the experiment, and Alison Smith and Ari Verbyla for helpful discussions.


References


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