A selection strategy for combining high grain yield and high protein content in South African wheat cultivars

Grain protein is a major contributor to nutritional quality of wheat.Due to the negative relationship between yield and ptrotein content, simultaneous improvement of these traits is very diffcult.The aim of this study was to identify possible selection criteria to improve protein content and yield simultaneously.Six spring irrigated wheat cultivars were used as parent lines in a half diallel design.The F1 hybrid progeny and parents were used as experimental material.Both high and low protein wheat types translocated equal amounts of nitrogen to the grain.Phenotypic correlations re-emphasised the problems of simultaneous improvement of grain yield and protein content.