Crossability and embryo development in wheat-rye hybrids

Crossability and embryo development were studied in the crosses of one Triticum aestivum and three T. durum genotypes with nineteen rye inbred lines. Parental wheat ane rye genotypes exerted a significant influence on the characters seed set, number of seeds containing embryos and viable plantlets obtained from embryo culture. It was established that the common winter wheat cultivar Goetz is of intermediate crossability. The rye inbred lines varied substantially in their capacity to fertilize several wheat genotypes. Interactions between wheats of different crossability classes and their seed set with rye lines were detected. Significant correlations were obtained between seed set and viable plantlets recovered in vitro.