Relationship of Seed Protein and Amino Acid Composition to Seedling Vigor and Yield of Wheat¹

Abstract

The seed of 17 phenotypes of a Mexican semidwarf wheat (Triticum aestivum L. ‘Inia 66’) was analyzed for protein and amino acid composition. These parameters were related to seedling vigor and yield to determine if amino acid composition would give a better estimate of potential vigor and yield within a genotype than seed protein. The seedling dry matter showed a high positive correlation with seed protein content (r = 0.93***). Analysis of amino acids in acid hydrolysates of the seed indicated that mole percent glutamic acid was positively related to seedling growth (r = 0.84***). Several other amino acids were found to be negatively correlated. Twelve phenotypes of Inia 66 (four rates of N fertilizer × three nontoxic levels of simazine [2 chloro‐4,6‐bis‐(ethylamino)‐striazine]) from a Mexican field trial were grown for second‐generation grain yields in Michigan. A positive relationship was found between both seed protein content and mole percent glutamic acid and grain yield (r = 0.70** and 0.74**, respectively). Although the amino acid analyses elucidated the possible source of the protein contributing to increased seedling vigor, they did not prove to give a better estimate of seedling vigor, or yield than N analyses.

Influence of Seed Size, Protein Content and Cultivar on Early Seedling Vigor Em Wheat

“…Kaufmann and Guitard (1967) using two barley cultivars found a positive relation-ship between seed size, SV and mature plant yield. Kaufmann Ries and associates Ries 1972, 1973:, Table 4. As found in the previous experiment, the larger seeds were higher in protein content.…”

Synthesis of Endosperm Proteins in Wheat Seed during Maturation

“…The combination of glutamine-glutamate and proline make up as much as 40 mole % of the total amino acid composition of wheat meal. These amino acids have been shown to be positively correlated with seedling vigor (7). The sparsity of information concerning the composition and function of cereal endosperm proteins may be partly due to their insolubility in most solvents.…”

Genetic studies on seedling vigour in sesame

“…Jensen (1988) and Townsend (1993) have reported seedling vigour to be influenced by seed weight and size, *Corresponding author although Jensen (1988) found that selecting for seed weight and size led to increased protein and lowered seed oil content in the resulting population. Lowe, Ayes & Ries (1972) and Evans & Bhatt (1977) found protein content to be positively correlated with seedling vigour in wheat. They suggested that the seedling vigour of the next generation can be increased either by the use of nitrogen fertiliser or by selection of large seeds.…”