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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Columbia, Missouri » Plant Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #105256
Title: TRITICALE X RYE CROSSABILITY

Author
item GUEDES-PINTO, H - UNIV OF TAD, PORTUGAL
item CASAS, L - UNIV OF TAD, PORTUGAL
item SILVA, C - UNIV OF TAD, PORTUGAL
item Gustafson, J

Submitted to: Plant Breeding
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/10/2000
Publication Date: 2/1/2001
Citation: GUEDES-PINTO, H., CASAS, L., SILVA, C., GUSTAFSON, J.P. TRITICALE X RYE CROSSABILITY. PLANT BREEDING. 2001. V. 120. P. 37-31.

Interpretive Summary: A massive amount of research has focused on the transferring of genes from one species to another, and their functioning in the host background. We showed that when crossing rye to triticale, there were clear differences in the ability of specific triticales and ryes to intercross. We established that genes exist in both triticale and rye that control the ability of the two species to inter-mate. Success of making interspecific crosses betwee triticale and rye clearly depends on gene interaction between both parents. The impact of this research is that it established the presence of genes in parental species that control the ability of those species to cross with each other. The knowledge that these genes exist will help scientists to understand why some interspecific crosses work and some do not, and will help to improve the efficiency of interspecific crossing for plant improvement.

Technical Abstract: It is well known that some interspecific crosses between cereals work and some do not. This has been a problem in the rapid transfer of genes from one cereal species to another. The present study was designed analyze the ability of triticale genotypes to cross with those of rye. Three years of experiments showed that the ability of hexaploid triticale to cross with rye is a heritable trait, similar to that observed in wheat. Statistically significant differences were attributed to the triticale genotypes studied. Of the four triticales studied, cultivar 'Beagle' showed the highest percentage of seed set (46.59%) when crossed with rye. However, it was still almost half of the value (84.24%) found when 'Chinese Spring' wheat was crossed to rye. 'Lasko', 'Cachirulo', and '8F/Corgo' had rye crossability averages of 12.43%, 8.29%, and 9.81%, respectively. Our data showed significant year and rye effects on triticale x rye crossability. Low crossability appeared to be under dominant genetic control as in wheat This supports the idea that the Kr loci present in wheat are also acting to control triticale x rye crossability. The 'Lasko', 'Cachirulo' and '8F/Corgo' genotypes seem to be completely dominant over 'Beagle' in their crossability. Definition of phenotypic crossability occurring in the F2 generation between low crossability triticales was difficult to analyze due to environmental and year effects. However, using arbitrary classes, segregation analysis of 'Beagle' x 'Lasko' was consistent with either monohybrid or dihybrid genetic control. Therefore, wheat Kr loci are acting in triticale x rye crosses just as they do in wheat crosses. However, rye's interaction with wheat or rye self-incompatibility alleles can also play a role influencing crossability.