A self-fertile trigeneric hybrid,Triticum aestivum ×Agropyron michnoi ×Secale cereale

Trigeneric hybrids between the (Triticum aestivum ×Agropyron michnoi) F1 (CM, 2n=5x=35; ABDPP) and two winter rye (Secale cereale L., 2n=2x=14; RR) cultivars, 'Wugong 774' and 'AR-132', were synthesized. Such trigeneric hybrids could be used to transfer resistance genes for powdery mildew from rye to CM and subsequently to common wheat and to identify (1) the effects of the P genome ofAgropyron on the self-fertility of the hybrids and (2) the differences in genetic background between rye cultivars with marked differences in pollinating habit. The trigeneric hybrids varied widely in morphology and showed a high level of resistance to such diseases as barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV), stripe rust, leaf rust, stem rust, and powdery mildew. Selfed and many backcross derivatives were obtained from the trigeneric hybrids. The results indicated that rye cvs 'Wugong 774' and 'AR132' arose from different gene pools and that the P genome ofAgropyron carries gene(s) responsible for chromosome segregation, leading to functional gamete formation and self-fertility of the hybrids. The F2 and BC1 plants could be obtained in two ways - fusion of the unreduced gametes and the assumed apomixis of unreduced female gametes in the trigeneric hybrid plant II-4 - which indicates that this trigeneric hybrid may be a special genetic stock. Chromosome pairing in the trigeneric hybrids and ways of producing wheat/rye and wheat/Agropyron translocations are discussed.