Some characteristics of segregation in hybrids of Hordeum spontaneum C. Koch emend. Bacht. × H. vulgare (L.) emend. Vav. et Bacht

The analysis of hybrid generations, that had arisen from crosses of various forms of H. spontaneum, as well as comparison of the results of crossing representatives of H. spontaneum with two and six-row forms of H. vulgare warrant the following statements: 1. When various morphological races of H. spontaneum were intercrossed, no morphologically new types arose among the progeny of hybrid generations as a result of these crosses. Various morphological hybrid groups, eight up to F 3, remained strictly within the variability of the system of the species Hordeum spontaneum C. Koch emend. Bacht. 2. When various morphological races of H. spontaneum were hybridized with two- and six-row forms of H. vulgare, marked dominance of characters of the wild parent were observed, nevertheless even in F 3 occasional hybrid individuals with a nonbrittle ear have been obtained. This fact is an evidence that cultivated barley may take part in the formation of such hybrids. In the fourth generation of the above interspecific crosses besides individuals which had inherited the characters of one or the other of the parents new morphological types arise. The latter are characterized by new combinations, inherited from both parents. In studies reported previously such casual hybrid individuals were provisionally named by us "sessiliproskowetzii". At first glance, the latter seemed not to differ from H. spontaneum v. proskowetzii, but more thorough observation showed that such hybrids differ from genuine individuals of v. proskowetzii: their sterile lateral spikelets are sessile, i.e. deprived of pedicels.