The genetic analyses of agronomic traits on chromosome 3A of wheat

One of the difficulties in improving wheat is that no one knows the genetic basis for agronomic traits. Previous studies with chromosome substitution lines between hard red winter wheat cultivars \u27Cheyenne\u27 (CNN) and \u27Wichita\u27 (WI), have identified that chromosome 3A contains gene(s), affecting grain yield, yield components, grain volume weight, plant height and anthesis date. However, chromosome substitution lines can only be used to identify the chromosomal location rather than the number and relationship of the genes carried by the chromosome. Using yield trials, molecular markers, and statistical test, we were able to identify one gene controlling anthesis date, one gene controlling tillering, two genes for plant height, two genes controlling kernel weight, and three genes for kernels/tiller. All of these genes are on chromosome 3A, however some are linked and some segregate independently. This research is important because it allows plant breeders to design their breeding programs on a known number of genes for these important traits that can be manipulated