INTERSPECIFIC HYBRIDIZATIONS WITH ELYMUS-CONFUSUS AND E-DOLICHATHERUS, AND THEIR GENOMIC RELATIONSHIPS (POACEAE, TRITICEAE)

In order to determine the genomic constitutions of Elymus confusus (RO SHEV.) TZVELEV and E. dolichatherus (KENG) LOVE and to explore their g enomic relationships with other Elymus species, intergeneric and inter specific hybridizations of the two target species were carried out wit h Pseudoroegneria spicata (PURSH) LOVE having the S genome, and fiftee n other Elymus species, containing one of the SH, SY, SHY or SYW genom es. Chromosome pairing behaviour was observed at MI of meiosis of the target species and their hybrids. Numerical analyses on meiotic config urations of the hybrids were performed. It is concluded from the hybri dization studies and cytological analyses that (i) interspecific hybri dization is easy to perform, with 97% of the crosses being successful, but strong reproductive barriers exist between the species; (ii) E. c onfusus contains the SH genomes and E. dolichatherus the SY genomes; a nd (iii) the differentiation of the S and Y genomes is evident amongst the different Elymus species studied.