Inheritance of late maturity alpha-amylase in wheat

Two wheat cultivars that consistently show high levels of grain alpha-amylase at harvest ripeness, in the absence of preharvest sprouting, were crossed with a control, low alpha-amylase cultivar, and F-1, F-2 and BC1 populations were developed. Grain of these populations was analysed for alpha-amylase activity at harvest ripeness. Distribution and segregation patterns were consistent with control at a single locus with high alpha-amylase the recessive allele. This mode of inheritance would make it extremely difficult to differentiate homozygous low alpha-amylase lines from heterozygotes (low alpha-amylase phenotype but carriers of high alpha-amylase) and has important implications for wheat breeders. High alpha-amylase, termed late maturity alpha-amylase, was not linked with the awned inhibitor gene, B2, located on the long arm of chromosome 6B.