Inheritance of disarticulation in progenies of hybrids among Tibetan weedra
ce (9053 and AS907 of Triticum aestivum var. tibetanum), Yunnan hulled whea
t (AS338 of T. aestivum concv. yunnanense) and spelt wheat (AS326 of T. aes
tivum concv. spelta) was studied. Disarticulation type is governed by some
disarticulation modifying genes. These modifying genes can be divided into
two groups, that is, wedge modifying genes (Wm) and barrel modifying genes
(Bm). The two kinds of genes are codominant. Wedge type disarticulation is
governed by the complement of at least two dominant wedge modifying genes (
Wm(1) and Wm(2), Wm(3) and Wm(4), or Wm(5) and Wm). Barrel type disarticula
tion is controlled by at least one dominant barrel modifying gene (Bm(1), B
m(2) or Bm(3)) and its expression can be inhibited in certain genetic backg
rounds. As to the background inhibition that dominant barrel modifying gene
s cannot express in some homozygous brittle rachis wheat, the hypothesis of
epistasy of many homozygous alleles was suggested.