Criteria for early generation selection in wheat breeding programmes for improving protein productivity

Abstract

Correlations of % grain protein, protein content/grain and protein yield/unit area with grain yield, yield components and harvest index were calculated for 21 spring wheat cultivars. % grain protein was negatively correlated with grain yield, grain number and harvest index. Protein content/grain was positively correlated with grain wt. and negatively with grain number. Grain protein yield/unit area was positively correlated with grain yield, wt. and number, harvest index and % grain protein and provided the best criterion for selection for improved protein productivity. It does not take account of amino acid composition or protein digestibility.