Haploidy from Hordeum interspecific crosses

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Abstract
Hordeum arizonicum (2n=42) and H. lechleri (2n=42) were crossed with both H. bulbosum (2n=14 or 28) and H. vulgare (2n=14 or 28) and progeny plants were obtained through embryoculture. Crosses of arizonicum with diploid bulbosum invariably resulted in haploids (2n=21) of arizonicum, whereas arizonicum by tetraploid bulbosum or diploid vulgare crosses produced both hybrids and haploids of arizonicum. The lechleri by diploid bulbosum or diploid vulgare crosses resulted in haploids of lechleri, while lechleri by tetraploid bulbosum resulted in well differentiated embryos which failed to germinate. Hybrid embryos derived from the haploid producing crosses exhibit chromosome variability, suggesting that chromosome elimination leads to haploid formation. The results also indicate that the ratio of the parental genomes in the zygote is a critical factor which determines the chromosome elimination or stability in any cross combination. Furthermore, both arizonicum and lechleri appear to be of similar ‘genetic strength’ in eliminating bulbosum and vulgare chromosomes. The possibility of ‘stability factors’ in overcoming elimination and manipulation towards elimination are discussed.
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