Identification of a complete set of isogenic wheat/rye D-genome substitution lines by means of Giemsa C-banding

Abstract

A complete set of isogenic wheat/rye D-genome substitutions were produced by crossing an inbred line of spring rye Secale cereale L. cv. “Prolific” to a tetraploid wheat, the A-and B-genomes of which had previously been extracted from hexaploid wheat, Triticum aestivum L. em Thell. cv. “Thatcher”. After chromosome doubling, the derived hexaploid triticale (x Triticosecale Wittmack) was backcrossed to 6x “Thatcher” and selection for wheat/rye substitution lines was carried out in BCF₃ to BCF₆ families by using Giemsa C-banding. Five fertile disomic wheat/rye D-genome substitution lines were obtained and their chromosomal constitution was determined to be 1D/1R, 2D/2R, 7D/4R, 6D/6R, 7D/7R. The two remaining 3R and 5R substitutions are at the moment in a monosomic condition. Another 1D/7R substitution was detected but this plant was very weak and sterile, indicating that only substitutions between homoeologous chromosomes result in fertile, vigorous plants. Furthermore, many rye telocentrics as well as rye-rye and rye-wheat translocations were selected. Since all lines selected in this program share the same genetic background of “Thatcher” wheat, genetic heterogeneity is excluded. The material is very useful, therefore, for analyzing the effects of different rye chromosomes or chromosome segments in an otherwise homozygous background.