Germination of pollen of weed rye (Secale segetale L.) on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) stigmas and the growth of the pollen tubes

Summary Two gene pairs have been found regulating the crossability of wheat and rye. It is concluded from our work that the same genes regulate crossability between wheat and weed rye. The crossing barrier was not observed in the stigma, style or ovary wall because pollen tubes of weed rye were seen in these tissues irrespective of the wheat variety used as the female parent.Pollen grains germinated within 6 min after pollination. The tubes reached the region of the micropyle after about 40 min.