H. Kihara: Genome-Analysis in Triticum and Aegilops. X

Cytogenetics of species hybrids and studies on polyploidy developed rapidly in the last three decades into a new branch of biology .Their theoretical and practical aspects seemed from the very beginnings to offer unlimited possibilities, and natural as well as artificial polyploids became the subject of great interest to plant geneticists in many countries.Kihara's investigations of the karyogenetical relationships between the three wheat groups-Einkorn, Emmer and Dinkel-started in 1918 (Kihara, 1919).Then, in 1924, followed his well known, classical studies on the pentaploid hybrids, with many interesting sidelights, like his ob servations of viable, fertile 20-bivalent descendant's (Sears' nullisomics).The relationships between the three genomes-A, B and D-having been laid clear, Kihara decided to include in his further investigations other groups of Triticinae and started with a few available species of Aegilops.The results of the first studies were published in 1929, upon which, starting with 1930, followed a series of contributions under the headline "Genomanalyse bei Triticum and Aegilops" (1930)(1931)(1932)(1933)(1934)(1935)(1936)(1937)(1938)(1939)(1940)(1941)(1942)(1943)(1944)(1945)(1946)(1947)(1948)(1949).In the first contribution (I, 1930) Kihara formulated a biogenetical definition of genome and laid down a broad foundation for his genome analysis with his "Analysatoren-Methode" which proved to be very helpful in ascertaining the genomes of polygenomic plants of unknown genomic constitution.Between the years 1930 and 1936 followed, with short intervals, five more contributions.During the troubled times later, until 1949, only three further reports were published (VII-IX).But experimental work was going on, as well as it was possible under the circumstances, and a number of important separate reports, closely connected with the analysis of genomes, were published by Kihara (to a great extent in Japanese)and various members of his institute.Also, during these years, a considerable amount of additional information was provided by the more fortunately situated plant geneticists of America who developed