Production and meiotic pairing of intergeneric hybrids of Triticum × Dasypyrum species

Summary Crossing experiments between Dasypyrum villosum (2 x) and 14 taxa of Triticum sensu lato (seven diploids, five tetraploids and two hexoploids) were performed. Adult hybrids were obtained in all but three of the combinations with diploid species. A haploid plant was obtained from the combination T. aestivum x D. villosum. Cytogenetic data on the meiotic pairing in the intergeneric hybrids revealed that, in general, very little pairing occurred between the V genome of Dasypyrum and the different genomes in Triticum. There may be comparatively large differences in pairing behaviour in hybrids including different parental accessions, which shows that the Triticum as well as the Dasypyrum genotypes may influence the pairing. The combination T. aestivum x D. hordeaceum (4 x) was also produced and from the meiotic pairing in the hybrid it is evident that D. hordeaceum is an autoploid.