Frequencies of haploid production in Japanese wheat Varieties crossed with tetraploid Hordeum bulbosum L.

Abstract

The crossabilities with tetraploid Hordeum bulbosum L, and haploid producsion by embryo culture in Japanese wheat varieties was investigated. Crossing procedures with high humidity and the application of gibberellic acid after pollination increased seed set, and floret maturity was also favourable for crossability. Seven of the eight Japanese varieties examined were crossable with H, bulbosum at mean frequencies of 4.4%-24.0% seed set. By embryo culture, approximately half of the embryos obtained from the crosses of Japanese varieties with H. bulbosum developed into haploid wheat plants. These results suggest that the doubled haploid method by crossing with H, bulbosum can be promising for wheat breeding programmes in Japan.