Identification of True Bread Wheat X Rye and Durum Wheat X Rye Crosses Based on Morphological Characterization

F₁ plants of eight combinations from durum wheat x rye and thirteen bread wheat x rye were studied for 11 morphological traits along with their parents. Coleoptile colour was a good early indicator of triticale synthesis in bread wheat x rye crosses. However, this did not work in case of durum x rye crosses. Another trait that gave unambiguous indication of hybrid nature was hairy peduncle but it appears at a relatively later stage of plant development. Anther length was intermediate to both the parents in durum wheat x rye and bread wheat x rye combinations also confirmed hybrid nature.