Genetic analysis of glume colour in common wheat cultivars from the former USSR

Genotypes for the glume colour character have been studied in 27 cultivars of common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) originated from old landraces, and 1 specimen of T. petropavlovskyi Udacz. et Migusch. by means of analysis of the F-2 populations. The following tester lines have been used: white-glumed 'Novosibirskaya 67'; 'Diamant I', and 'Federation', carrying the Rg1 gene alone; lines RL5405 and near-isogenic 'Saratovskaya 29' *5 (T. timopheevii Zhuk./T. tauschii (Coss.) Schmal.), carrying Rg2; line (1A 'CS' x 'Strela') with Rg3. The red glume colour in 21 cultivars of Triticum aestivum and in the accession of T. petropavlovskyi has been shown to be determined by the single gene Rg1, located on chromosome 1B. Five cultivars carrying the gene Rg3 for red glumes on chromosome 1A have been revealed. The cultivars 'Zhnitsa' and 'Iskra' carry the gene Rg3 alone. The red glume colour in the cultivars 'Milturum 321', 'Milturum 2078', 'Sredneural'skaya' is controlled by two genes, Rg1 and Rg3. In two common wheat cultivars, 'Sarrubra' and 'Krasnoyarskaya 1103' the red glume colour is determined by Rg1, inherited from local populations ('Turka' and 'Kubanka' respectively) of tetraploid wheat T. durum Desf, var. hordeiforme Host. Wide occurrence of the Rg1 gene in common wheat has been confirmed. On the contrary, none of the investigated varieties carries the gene Rg2.