Chromosomal location of genes for supernumerary spikelet in tetraploid wheat
The supernumerary spikelet (SS) trait of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L.), including the ramified and four-rowed spike traits, is characterized by an increased number of spikelets per spike. Chromosomal location of the SS gene(s) was determined by crossing the ramified spike line PI349056 to the set of 'Langdon' D-genome disomic substitution lines. Double monosomic F1 plants were backcrossed to PI349056 and the testcross F1 plants were classified for chromosome pairing and spike type. Segregation for spike type was observed in the testcross F2. Data indicated that the major SS gene was located on chromosome 2A. Subsequent crosses with the 'Langdon' 2A telosomics indicated that the major SS gene was located on the short arm of chromosome 2A. Segregation of the testcross F2 indicated that a minor SS gene was located on chromosome 2B. Results also indicated that inhibitors of SS may be located on the D-genome chromosomes and an additional experiment was designed to test this hypothesis. Eight D-genome monosomic addition lines were developed by backcrossing PI349056 from one to three times to plants containing D-genome univalents. The test populations contained two cytological types of plants, disomics having 14 pairs of durum chromosomes and D-genome monosomic additions having 14 pairs of durum chromosomes plus a D-genome monosome. Comparison of these two types of plants indicated that chromosome 2D (from 'Chinese Spring' wheat) had a strong inhibitor of SS expression.Key words: Triticum, branched spike, ramified spike, four-rowed spike, cytogenetics.