CROSSABILITY AND ENDOSPERM DEVELOPMENT IN RECIPROCAL HYBRIDS OF OCTOPLOID TRITICALE WITH DURUM WHEAT

Abstract

Four newly synthesized octoploid triticales were crossed with three durum wheats reciprocally to study the crossability and endosperm development. Crossability was expressed as % seed-set and data on endosperm development were recorded at different days after pollination (DAP). Overall crossability was relatively higher when durum wheat was used as the maternal parent. Development of endosperm was normal in octoploid triticale x durum wheat crosses. However, in reciprocals endosperm degenerated between 16-19 DAP. Pronounced disturbance in embryo: endosperm chromosome ratio and the tetraploid cytoplasmic background of hybrids seem to be the probable causes of the degeneration of endosperm in durum wheat x octoploid triticale hybrids.