Relative efficiency of the maize- and Imperata cylindrica-mediated chromosome elimination approaches for induction of haploids of wheat-rye derivatives

With 1 table Abstract Backcrosses were attempted of F1 hybrids of spring wheat genotypes (HS 375 and C 306) and winter wheat genotypes (Saptdhara and Tyari) with the Indian rye (Secale cereale L.) landrace ‘Lahaul Local’. Intergeneric hybridizations using pollen of maize and Imperata cylindrica (2n = 20), a wild and weedy species, were conducted in the wheat-rye-derived backcross BC1F1 and BC1F2 generations to study the relative efficiency of the two chromosome elimination approaches in the induction of haploid plants. Although seed formation was similar with both pollen sources, the relative frequency of embryo-carrying seeds ranged from 8% to 30% with I. cylindrica, whereas with maize, no embryo-carrying seed was obtained. Comparisons of induction of haploid plants in the wheat-rye backcross derivatives showed that the wheat × I. cylindrica system was superior to the wheat × maize system and was also cost effective as it shares the flowering season with wheat in sub-temperate conditions.