Production and morphology of the hybrids Aegilops kotschyi x Secale cereale and Ae. biuncialis x S. cereale

Hybrids between Aegilops kotschyi and Ae. biuncialis with Secale cereale were synthesized. Five Ae. kotschyi and four Ae. biuncialis accessions, as well as one inbred and four self-compatible forms of Secale cereale were used for crossing. The hybrids were produced directly from cultured embryos or through embryo callus culture. Sixty hybrids, 11 involving Ae. kotschyi and 49 Ae. biuncialis, had a stable somatic chromosome number 2n = 3x = 21. The plants showed good vegetative vigour and tillering capacity. Morphologically the hybrids were intermediate between their parents and completely sterile. In vitro propagation of Ae. kotschyi and Ae. biuncialis x S. cereale hybrids revealed that their capacity for callus production and plantlet regeneration - varies.