GENOTYPE AND AGE EFFECT ON IN-VITRO EMBRYO RESCUE OF BREAD WHEAT-X-HEXAPLOID TRITICALE HYBRIDS

The in vitro embryo rescue response of hybrid embryos of different age s and sizes of 16 bread wheat x hexaploid triticale crosses was studie d. Response was dependent on the parental wheat genotype. However, the triticale genotype did not seem to affect the response of in vitro em bryo rescue. Optimum age of the embryo for better recovery of complete plantlets coincided with onset of the drying of hybrid caryopses in t he field. Embryo size was positively correlated with embryo germinatio n and recovery of plantlets and negatively correlated with callus deve lopment. The best embryo germination (55.55%) and plantlet recovery (5 0%) were recorded in the hybrid 'HD 2380' wheat x 'JNIT 173' triticale .