Inheritance of kernel hardness in spring wheat as measured by near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy

Kernel hardness is an important character directly associated with milling quality of hard wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.). We studied the inheritance of kernel hardness with the near-infrared reflectance technique. Four segregating populations were developed from three crosses: Amidon/Grandin for population 1 at Prosper, ND; Grandin/Amidon for population 2 at Fargo, ND; Amidon/ND622 for populations 3 and 4 at Prosper, ND and Fargo, ND. Amidon has a relatively hard kernel, whereas Grandin and ND622 have satisfactory kernel hadrness for desirable milling characteristics. Populations were grown in augmented block field experiments in 1988 and 1989. Heritability estimates for kernel hardness obtained by regression of F4 on F3 lines in populations 1 and 2, were 0.28 and 0.21, respectively. The estimates for the same character obtained by regression of F5 on F4 lines in populations 3 and 4 were 0.45 and 0.52, respectively. The estimates of heritability were significant. Effects of locations on kernel hardness were not significantly different. Statistical analyses showed that heritability estimates for populations 4 and 2 were significantly different. Correlation coefficients on a plot basis indicated little or no association between grain protein concentration and kernel hardness.