Crossability effects of spring wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) with rye (Secale cereale L.) genotypes.

The investigation was undertaken to evaluate the crossability effects of tetraploid durum wheat in crosses with rye and the next to identify the best cross-combinations for primary triticale production. Altogether, 365 crosses were made, 65 700 florets were pollinated, 16.4% seed set was obtained, 5 902 embryos were cultured, 1.1% plant set, 12.7% plant viability and 60.8% doubling rate and 16.2 kernels per plant 2n were obtained. Out of these, 21 cross - combinations with the best crossability effects were identified. They exhibited 27.0% of seed set, 56.0% of seeds with embryos, 14.5% of plant viability, 2.2% of plant set., 70.2% of doubling rate, 1.6% of plant fertile set and 50.1 kernels per plant 2n. The results demonstrated the distinct differences in the crossability effects between the several cross-combinations. Also, the same was observed among the group of 21 cross-combinations identified as having the best crossability effects.