Effect of Gpc-B1 gene on grain protein content and productivity traits in a set of high yielding wheat lines

The effect of Gpc-B1 in the high yielding background of bread wheat DPW621-50 was studied in yield trials conducted during 2013–14 and 2014–15 at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana by using a set of six gene positive and six gene negative lines derived from the cross DPW621-50//Glupro/3*PBW568/3/DPW621-50. The hard red US spring wheat “Glupro” served as primary donor, which was backcrossed twice to PBW568 to develop a large set of locally adapted lines. A high grain protein derivative with desirable agronomic features served as donor for the current set of lines in the background of DPW621-50. Presence of Gpc-B1 resulted in significant increase of grain protein content with range of enhancement being 5.2 to 12.5% during 2013–14 and 3.8 to 11.0% during 2014–15. The enhancement in protein content did not show concomitant increase for grain zinc and iron concentration. Comparison of yield showed negative influence of Gpc-B1 gene as yield was lowered to >25% in Gpc-B1 lines. The yield reduction was primarily mediated through reduction in 1000-grain weight in the Gpc-B1 positive lines.