THE EFFECT OF EMBRYO TRANSPLANTATION ON SEED SET IN SOME WHEAT-RYE CROSSES

Abstract

Experiments were conducted to give information on the methodology and value of embryo transplantation in wheat-rye crosses. Embryos of diploid, tetraploid and hexaploid wheats were transplanted to wheat, rye, and alien endosperm types. Plants derived from transplanted embryos were used for crosses with Secale cereale. A modified method for transplanting embryos to another endosperm was developed. Results of test crosses indicate that crossing results could not be improved by transplanting embryos to different endosperm types. Findings support the theory of the presence of "crossability genes" in some wheat parents which appear to be the same in tetraploid as in hexaploid wheats.