BREEDING IMPLICATIONS OF THE NEGATIVE CORRELATION BETWEEN YIELD AND PROTEIN-CONCENTRATION IN A WINTER-WHEAT POPULATION

Agronomic and quality data from three winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) lines, selected from polymorphic breeding population An b7780 grow n at Helsinki University (Viikki) were analyzed to determine the effec t of nitrate reductase (NR) activity and rate of photosynthesis on gra in yield and quality, at Zadoks growth stages GS 13 and GS 47, respect ively. This study reveals that in selection for high yield and protein concentration of grains within a winter wheat population one must con sider N uptake and translocation to the grains, including long-term ca pacity for high NR activity and photosynthetic rate. Breeding for NR a ctivity and photosynthetic rate may lead to improved yield, N uptake r ate. protein concentration and protein quality of winter wheat.