1- Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Islamic
Republic of Iran.
2- Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research, Plas Gogerddan, Aberystwyth, SY23 3EB, U.K.
3- John Innes Center, Norwich Research Park, Colney, Norwich, NR4 7UH, U.K.
4- School of Plant Science, Department of Agricultural Botany, The University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading,
RG6 6AS, U.K.
Abstract: (6250 Views)
Soil affected by salt (NaCl) is a major problem worldwide and in areas with potential
agriculture; lands in many countries are not enough to support crop production. The development
of salt tolerant cultivars would be enhanced by better understanding of the genetic
control of tolerance to salt stress. A new cereal, tritipyrum, a range of amphiploids
between Triticum spp. and Thinopyrum spp. offers such a new chance. Those with the 6x
construction (2n=6x=42, AABBEbEb) derived from Triticum durum (2n=4x=28, AABB)
and Thinopyrum bessarabicum (2n=2x=14, EbEb) are of the potential to become a new high
salt tolerant cereal crop. Tritipyrum is prone to problems similar to those exhibited by
early triticales, e.g. chromosome instability and low fertility, which in that crop were eventually
overcome by breeding. Other problems could be overcome through substitution of
Eb genome chromosomes by D genome ones, and the feasibility of this has been assessed in
the progenies of (6x tritipyrum) x (6x wheat) hybrids with the aid of fluorescent in situ
hybridization (FISH). The cytological, morphological and agronomic studies of existing
tritipyrum lines, including the effect of vernalization, were carried out, too. A novel multiple-
pistil/seed characteristic of one original tritipyrum line has also been investigated
and its genetic basis established. The results have shown that, first creation of substituted
lines is feasible, and thus it could be a route for the elimination of undesirable traits. Second,
improvement should be possible via selection for chromosomally stable lines, with increased
fertility and yield. Third, it may also be possible to exploit the perennial habit and
multi-tillering traits in a dual-purpose forage/grain crop. Fourth, the multiple-pistil/seed
trait may be controlled by two recessive genes. Fifth, there is a high probability of having
established the seven possible monosomic additions of Th. bessarabicum to T.durum for
the first time.
Received: 2010/05/12 | Accepted: 2010/05/12 | Published: 2010/05/12