Ten "ax genotypes were evaluated (0( 11 agronomic traits urder field conditions
in 200212003 and 2003/2004 growing seasons. The tested agrOl1omic ltaits were
tedlnical length, stem diameter. straw yield ~1 plant. straw yield pef red .. apical
branchir'lg zone length, no. of capsules per plant, no. of seeds per plant, seed yield per plant, seed ~td per fed., fiber yield per plant. and fiber yield per fed. Seed proteins of the genotypes were separated by SDS-PAGE, and the obtained banding pattems were vi~lized by using silver nitrate staining system. Date for agronomic traits (dependentv ariables) and amounts o( protein fractions (Independent variableS or predictors) were entered into a computerized stepIMse multiple regression analysiS. Usir'lg the predictors supplied by stepwise regression, 11 regression medals were cons\J\lc\ed to predict agronomic traits. Coefficient of determination (R2) values of the modals ranged from 37.90 to 100 %. It is noteworthy that the three one-variable models of ted1nical length, stem diameter, and straw yield per fed. showed the lowest R2 values, which may indicate that seeO proteins are of limited value as biochemical malkers to predict these agronomic traits. The results of the present study suggest that SOS-PAGE ot seed proteins may provide a suppiernentary assay to field trials to quantify agronomic traits of "ax genotypes.