New Methods of Utilizing Wheat and Rye Germ Plasm in Triticale Breeding1

Two new methods of Triticale breeding are proposed viz. (i) Hybridizing the sterile F1 hybrids (ABDR) obtained from hexaploid wheat, Triticum sp. (AABBDD) ✕ rye, Secale sp. (RR) crosses with hexaploid Triticale (AABBRR) and (ii) crossing the pentaploid wheat (AABBD) ✕ rye (RR) sterile hybrids with AABBRR. Cytological screening of progenies for desired chromosome types and/or selection of more fertile Triticale‐like plants should result in the derivation of stable hexaploid Triticale lines. These methods, thus, eliminate the need of synthesizing wheat ✕ rye amphiploids as a means of introducing variability in the breeding populations. Because these methods greatly reduce cytological work and have other desirable features, they should be useful for rapidly improving Triticale even where laboratory facilities are minimal.