ENHANCED MEIOTIC CHROMOSOME-PAIRING IN INTERGENERIC HYBRIDS BETWEEN TRITICUM-AESTIVUM AND DIPLOID INNER MONGOLIAN AGROPYRON

Triticum aestivum cv. Chinese Spring (2n = 6x = 42, ABD genomes) was crossed with diploid Inner Mongolian Agropyron Gaertn. species A. cristatum and A. mongolicum and reciprocal hybrids between them (2n = 2x = 14, P genome, with or without B chromosomes). Intergeneric hybrids with 2n = 27, 28, 32, and 33 chromosomes were produced by the aid of embryo rescue. The extra chromosomes in two hybrids were assumed to be B chromosomes transmitted by the male Agropyron parent. Average meiotic pairing in the euploid hybrid with 28 chromosomes was 14.38 univalents + 4.92 bivalents + 1.26 trivalents. This level of pairing higher than expected was likely due to homeologous associations between wheat chromosomes. This data indicates that the P genome of diploid as well as tetraploid Agropyron originating from Inner Mongolia possess a genetic system interfering with 5B homoeologous restricting system of wheat.