Characterization of hybrid plants obtained from crossеs involving two species of einkorn wheat

Nadia Daskalova, Rositsa Demirova

Abstract: A phenotypic characteristic of F1 and F2 hybrids obtained from crosses involving Triticum monococcum and Triticum sinskajae was made. The following traits have been investigated: overwintering, heading and spike morphology. The hulled einkorn Triticum monococcum and its hybrids survived comparatively in a good state during the winter of 2016/2017 in Varna, as over 90% of plant wintering. The naked species Triticum sinskajae, accession TS18401, shows a lower wintering rate, but the difference compared to hybrids was not statistically proved. All tested materials headed late, 56-60 days after April 1st. The two einkorn species were different regarding the spike shape and free-threshing trait. The derived F1 plants from two crosses resembled the hulled parent in phenotypic expression of these two characteristics - the cylindrical spike shape and hard glumes were dominant traits. The spike shape (normal and compact) followed the monogenic inheritance (3:1) in F2. Six hybrid plants with normal spike seed-set and a free-threshing manner were selected in F2 as perspective individuals for future breeding studies to improve hulled einkorn.

Keywords: degree of threshing; einkorn; overwintering; selection; spike shape; Triticum monococcum; Triticum sinskajae

Date published: 2019-04-08