The inheritance of genetic variation in rye (Secale cereale) affecting homoeologous chromosome pairing in hybrids with bread wheat (Triticum aestivum)

Abstract

Chiasmata frequencies ranging from 0.07 to 10.40 per cell were recorded in 125 hybrid plants derived from wheat×F₁ rye crosses. These included 89 plants belonging to 28 families from the Triticum aestivum 'Chinese Spring'×Secale cereale F₁ ('Petkus'×'Prolific') cross and 36 plants belonging to 11 families from the 'Chinese Spring'×F₁ ('Prolific'×'Puma') cross. The data were analyzed to study the inheritance of genetic variation in rye affecting homoeologous chromosome pairing. The results were particularly interesting in the former case where segregation for major genes was evident. First, in this cross, a bimodal distribution was observed and second, chiasmata frequencies ranging from 6.11 to 10.40 per cell were observed in three families but without any hybrid falling in either the range of 3.0 to 6.0 or in the range of 6.11 to 9.82, showing discontinuous distribution. It was concluded that the genetic system in 'Petkus' differs from that in 'Prolific', and that genes both with major effects and minor effects may be present, the major effects possibly resulting from complementary gene action. In the second cross involving F₁ rye plants derived from 'Prolific'×'Puma', a smaller sample gave a continuous distribution with a single mode, the chiasmata frequency never exceeding 2.70 per cell. This could be due to a difference in genetic systems found in 'Puma' and 'Petkus' since 'Prolific' was a common parent in both crosses. The genetic variation in rye observed in the present study has been compared with that known in Aegilops speltoides and it was concluded that these may be of a similar nature.