Comparison of Haploid Production Frequencies in Wheat Varieties Crossed with Hordeum bulbosum L. and Maize

The crossabilities of five wheat varieties with four clones of Hordeum bulbosum and eight genotypes of maize were investigated using the injection treatment of 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2, 4-D) after pollination. Three of the five wheat varleties were not crossable with H. bulbosum regardless of the 2, 4-D treatment. On the other hand, an average of 22.1% of wheat florets from all these varieties formed immature embryos when pollinated with maize and followed by the 2, 4-D treatment. For 20 wheat varieties from West Asia and North Africa, an average of 9.5% of wheat florets pollinated with maize produced wheat haploids. This contrasts with a frequency of 0.2% in case of pollination with H. bulbosum.