Reciprocal Introgression of Quality Traits in Durum and Bread Wheat

Three interspecific crosses were generated involving two bread wheat and three durum wheat genotypes for reciprocal introgression of desirable quality traits. In each cross, 40 F₅ progenies, including both durum and bread what types were evaluated for five quality traits. A number of progenies in both types of wheat were found to be significantly superior for protein content, sedimentation value and 1000-grain weight to their respective parents and check cultivars. In bread wheat types, some progenies were significantly superior to the parent and check cultivar for p-carotene content and test weight also. A few durum wheat type progenies had significantly higher $-carotene content than their respective durum wheat parent. Parental differences for contributing desirable alleles to the derivatives were noticed. The protein content had significant negative association with test weight in durum, while it was positive in bread wheat derivatives. The protein content had negative, whereas test weight and sedimentation value had positive association with grain yield in both types of progenies. The p-carotene content showed significant negative association with test weight, while the latter had positive association with sedimentation value. The 1000-grain weight had positive association with p-carotene content, test weight, sedimentation value and seed yield. Some of the progenies have been identified as promising for two or more quality traits. These will be utilized in hybridization programme for further improvement in both durum and bread wheats.