Present and perspectives in Romanian triticale breeding program

Triticale is grown in Romania, mainly, in the hilly regions on the acid poor fertile soils and covers, yearly, around 100-130 thousands ha or 1.5% from the arable land. Since 1971, when the breeding program has been started, up to present, it has been developed an adapted triticale germplasm for the Romanian environmental conditions and 12 new varieties have been registered. Genetic progress for yield, estimated over a 27 years, is by 46 kg ha(1) year(1) or 0.80% year(1), similarly with those realized in the most dynamic triticale breeding programs of the world. The improving of yields has been achieved by an increased number of kernels per spikes, plumpness of kernels, test weight and reduction of the plant height by introduction in the Romanian triticale germplasm of RhtB1b (Rht1) and Ddw1 (Hl) genes. The genetic gain for reduction of plant height, in this period, was estimated at 1.16 cm yr(1). Further progress regarding yield stability under conditions of global climatic changes, a broader genetic diversity for preharvest sprouting (PHS), drought tolerance, earliness, high canopy albedo, diseases resistance, especially for fusarium head blight (low DON content in kernels), leaf rust and BYDV, is required.