Triticum × Aegilops Hybrids Through Embryo Culture

Abstract

Genetic diversity in cultivated bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) which could be explored for breeding modern, high-yielding varieties resistant to various biotic and abiotic stresses, may be insufficient in some cases. The introduction of new useful genes by wide hybridization is one of the most effective means for enrichment of the gene pool of the cultivated hexaploid wheat (Plucknett et al. 1987). The current status and results of wide crosses in wheat have been recently discussed by several authors (Feldman and Sears 1981; Sharma and Gill 1983; Mujeeb-Kazi and Kimber 1985; Kimber and Feldman 1987) (see also Pienaar, Chap. II.4, this Vol.).