Effects of photoperiod sensitivity genes Ppd‐B1 and Ppd‐D1 on spike fertility and related traits in bread wheat

Increasing grain yield is a key breeding goal in bread wheat. Several authors have suggested that a spike fertility index ( SF ), that is the quotient between grain number per unit spike ( GNS ) and spike chaff dry weight ( SCDW ), could be used as a yield‐related selection criterion, especially if molecular markers were available. Here, the effects of Ppd‐B1 and Ppd‐D1 genes on SF m, GNS m and SCDW m (measured at maturity) and the relationship...