Issue |
Environ. Biosafety Res.
Volume 6, Number 4, October-December 2007
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Page(s) | 249 - 257 | |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/ebr:2007046 | |
Published online | 21 February 2008 |
Evaluation of crossability between triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack) and common wheat, durum wheat and rye
1
Alberta Agriculture and Food/University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
2
Grant MacEwen College, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
3
Agriculture and AgriFood Canada, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
Corresponding author: linda.hall@ualberta.ca
Development of transgenic triticale as a platform for novel bio-industrial products is predicated on an environmental biosafety assessment that quantifies the potential risks associated with its release. Pollen-mediated gene flow to related species and conventional triticale varieties is one pathway for transgene movement. A tier 1 quantification of triticale hybridization was conducted by emasculating and hand pollinating flowers under greenhouse conditions. Approximately 2000 manual pollinations were conducted for each cross and its reciprocal between two triticale genotypes: a modern triticale cultivar (AC Alta) and primary triticale (89TT108), and common wheat, durum wheat and rye. The frequency of outcrossing, hybrid seed appearance and weight, and F1 emergence and fertility were recorded. Outcrossing, F1 emergence and fertility rates were high from crosses between triticale genotypes. Outcrossing in inter-specific crosses was influenced by the species, and the genotype and gender of the triticale parent. In crosses to common and durum wheat where triticale was the male parent, outcrossing was ≥73.0% and ≥69.5%, respectively, but ≤23.9% and ≤3.0% when triticale was the female parent. Overall, outcrossing with rye was lower than with common and durum wheat. F1 hybrid emergence was greater when triticale was the female parent. With the exception of a single seed, all wheat-triticale F1 hybrid seeds were non-viable when triticale was the male parent in the cross. Only seven durum wheat-triticale F1 hybrids emerged from 163 seeds sown, and all were produced with triticale 89TT108 as female parent. With rye, 8 F1 hybrids emerged from 38 seeds sown, and all were produced from crosses to AC Alta; five with AC Alta as the female parent and three as the male. Interspecific F1 hybrids were self-sterile, with the exception of those produced in crosses between common wheat and triticale where triticale was the female parent. Tier 2 hybridization quantification will be conducted under field conditions.
Key words: triticale / outcrossing / risk assessment / biosafety / hybridization / rye / wheat / crossability
© ISBR, EDP Sciences, 2008