Grain color development and the inheritance of high anthocyanin blue aleurone and purple pericarp in spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

There is renewed interest in breeding for high anthocyanin content in wheat due to its antioxidant potential. A series of adapted spring wheat lines were developed with blue aleurone or purple pericarp. The development of anthocyanin concentration and color of these selected lines was measured during grain filling for two field seasons at Saskatoon, Canada. In addition, the inheritance of the blue aleurone and purple pericarp was studied. Anthocyanin concentration increased rapidly during grain development and then decreased before maturity. Anthocyanin concentration was highest in PIG03008, a purple pericarp wheat. For mature grain, genotypic variation for anthocyanin concentration was statistically significant while the year and genotype by year interaction were not, facilitating the breeding progress. Blue aleurone was shown to be controlled by a single dominant gene in BC populations whereas purple pericarp appeared to be controlled by two loci with a segregation ratio of 11 purple: 5 white in F2 populations. The results indicate that breeding high anthocyanin blue or purple wheat is feasible.