INHERITANCE OF BLUE KERNEL COLOUR IN WHEAT

The inheritance of blue kernel colour was studied in crosses of a blue-kernelled Agropyron elongatum (Host) Beauv. X Triticum vulgare (Vill.) Host. derivative, Blue 1, with Rescue, a red-kernelled variety, and with Lemhi a white-kernelled variety. The blue colour was found to be in the endosperm and xenia was observed. Each generation from F1 to F3 was grown at a different location under varying environments. From the ratios obtained it was concluded that blue colour is conditioned by two complementary dominant genes whose expression appears to be influenced by environment.