Intergeneric hybridizations with Eremopyrum (Poaceae)

Intergeneric crosses were made between the four species of Eremopyrum (2n = 14, 28) and 16 species (2n = 14, 28, 42) from 8 genera of the Triticeae. Seed set was obtained in 22 of 42 different combinations. Only 9 resulted in progeny and only one was diploid. The hybrids were morphologically intermediate between the parents and it has been confirmed that perenniality dominates over annuality. The very low pollen fertility of the hybrids was caused by very low chromosome pairing in meiosis and supports the uniqueness of the Eremopyrum genome. Autosyndesis between the chromosomes of E. orientale is proposed and for that reason reevaluation of the relationships within Eremopyrum is needed.