The Evolutionary Development of Triticale: The Wheat—Rye Hybrid

Abstract

The hybridization of two species is a well established procedure that results in the formation of new species and furthers the evolution of plants. The understanding of this procedure, which has given scientists an insight into the origin of many naturally existing plant species, was enhanced 39 years ago when a method was established whereby polyploid plants could be produced with relative ease by using the drug colchicine (Blakeslee and Avery, 1937). Since polyploidy is one of the better known evolutionary processes and is a method capable of producing radically different genotypes, it is extremely well-suited for development as a tool for use in plant breeding.