Determination of Rht-4 reduced height gene by SSR molecular marker in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and examination of the relationship between plant height and coleoptile length

In this study, we investigated the effects of Rht-4 genotype to plant height, coleoptile length and yield characteristics in BSJ14 (type carrying Rht-4 gene) and Scholar bread wheat variety hybrids (which has a normal plant height that does not have any known dwarf genes) in F4 generations. Hybridizations of between wheat varieties were made at Colorado State University. These seeds were brought to Turkey in 2013 and cultivated in the experimental areas in accordance with augmented experimental design during the 2014-15 wheat growing season in Department of Field crops of the Faculty of Agriculture of Ege University. Plant height, peduncle length, spike length, number of spikelets in spike, number of grain in spike, thousand kernel weight, coleoptile length, coleoptile diameter, first leaf length and grain weight were measured in F4 plants. In addition to this, the F4 lines carrying Rht-4 gene were determined molecularly using Rht-4 gene marker Xwmc317. The results showed that 25 F4 lines carry the Rht-4 gene, 36 F4 lines do not carry and 11 F4 lines are heterozygous. According to the results of variance analysis, there were no statistically significant differences between the varieties used as control genotypes in the study, except spikelets number per spike, coleoptile diameter and first leaf length. When the results of regression analysis are examined between the Rht-4 gene and the examined properties, Rht-4 gene explaned 10% of the variation in spike length. It can be suggested that the lines which are short plant height, long coleoptile and suitable for changing climatic conditions select in order to transfer to next generations. Keywords: Bread wheat, Rht-4 gene, coleoptile lenght, plant height, yield characteristics, SSR.