Evaluation of 'Anahuac' wheat mutant lines for aluminum tolerance

Seeds from the aluminum sensitive cultivar 'Anahuac' were treated by gamma- ray radiation. Twenty eight selected Al+3 tolerant mutants were compared to the original Anahuac and the tolerant wheat cultivars IAC-24 and IAC-60 fr om 1994 to 1996 in acid (Capao Bonito) and limed (Monte Alegre do Sul and T atui) soil field trials. Grain yield and agronomic characteristics were ana lyzed. Twenty six mutant lines yielded higher than the sensitive Anahuac cu ltivar in the acid soils of Capao Bonito. Under limed soil conditions, the mutants had a similar yield to the original sensitive cultivar. The majorit y of the mutants were similar in yield to the tolerant cultivars IAC-24 and IAC-60 under both conditions. Some of the mutants showed altered agronomic characteristics but even in these cases this will not limit its utilizatio n. The results indicated that tolerant lines with good characteristics may be obtained from a susceptible cultivar by mutation induction, thus allowin g cropping in conditions where Al+3 is a limiting factor.