Effects of reduced plant height on breeding requirements and ...

as strong nor as consl-stent as is <strong>of</strong>ten suggested.
Test wqlgbt. ï,Iith the exception <strong>of</strong> sor¡e previously
di-scussed interrelationships the co*erations between test
weight and most other traits measured tended to be inconsis_
tent. Further exception to this occumed regarding itrs
negative associatLons with days to heading and rnaturity.
lhe relationships with heading date Índicated that the earrier
part <strong>of</strong> the graín development períod was more critical to
the achieve¡nent <strong>of</strong> hígh test weight, particularly in the
fÍnite grow5-ng season encountered in this study.
The explanation for the association with maturity prob_
ably J.Íes in the fact that most later maturing lines were
unable to complete kernel deveLopment under the growíng
conditíons encountered.. Hence, these grain sample s tended
to contai.n a greater percentage <strong>of</strong> smaLler, less dense
kernels whÍch gave rise to lower test weight.
The positÍve assocíation between test weight and lodgfng
reflected the eorrelations between test weight and <strong>plant</strong>
heíght, and heíght and lodgÍng. this was particularly
evident in populatÍon C-ZO-3 where <strong>height</strong> and lodglng were
more strongly related .
îhe negative correlatl_ons between test weight and the
raalting quality parameters suggested the selectÍon <strong>of</strong> high
quality malting tines with high test weight might be dif_
ficult in this naterial, especialLy in population C-?O-í,.
Plumþness. The associatÍons <strong>of</strong> this trait with heading
date and days in post-anthesis indieated the positive ín_
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