Effect of Ploidy Level and Chromosome Constitution on Crossability and Growth of F₁ Plants in Intervarietal Triticale Crosses

Abstract

One complete type octoploid and seven hexaploid triticale (X Triticosecale WITTMACK) lines or varieties, among which two were the complete and five were the substituted types, were used in reciprocal crosses. When the octoploid was used as a female parent, crossability, weight of 25 kernels and the percentage of the F₁ plants grown till maturity were superior to those from the reciprocal crosses, except the crossabilities in the cross with those substituted types which were Camel/Pato of 2D/2R, 4D/4R, 5D/5R, Camel of 2D/2R, 4D/4R and Beaver of 2D/2R substitution. In the reciprocal crosses of the substltuted type with the complete type of hexaploid triticale, higher crossability was obtained when the former was used as a female except when the 2D/2R, 4D/4R substltuted variety Welsh was used as felnale. When the substituted type was used as fe-male the F₁ kernel weight was lower. F₁ seeds obtained from the crosses between elther Camel/Pato or Welsh as female and the complete types Beagle and Currency as male had simllar appearance to the kernel of wheat rather than that of triticale or rye. Slmilar results were also obtained in case of the reciprocal corsses between Camel/Pato and Welsh.