ANALYSIS OF DISEASE RESISTANCE AND QUALITY CHARACTERS OF F1 HYBRIDS OF CROSSES BETWEEN WHEAT (TRITICUM-AESTIVUM) AND SPELT (TRITICUM-SPELTA)

With the objective of creating new combinations of disease resistance and quality, hybrids between wheat and spelt (spelt is well adapted to cool and wet conditions) were produced and the expression of heterosi s was analysed. Three winter wheat varieties were crossed reciprocally with two spelt cultivars and the F-1 hybrids were tested under artifi cial inoculation with stripe rust, powdery mildew and leaf rust. Disea se susceptibility and quality characters (protein content, Zeleny valu e, grain hardness) were assessed in two year field trials. For stripe rust the F-1 hybrids were resistant if one of the wheat parents was re sistant. Combinations with the susceptible wheat cultivar 'Arina' were all susceptible irrespective of using a resistant spelt partner. Alth ough the infection with powdery mildew was rather low, a similar react ion was obtained with the susceptible wheat variety 'Bernina'. Leaf ru st revealed very specific varietal influences. The two susceptible whe at varieties 'Bernina' and 'Arina' resulted in susceptible F-1 hybrids when combined with a moderately resistant spelt. Only when they were crossed with a resistant spelt cultivar the F-1 hybrids were resistant . 'Forno', a leaf rust resistant wheat, gave resistant F-1 hybrids in all combinations. Without exception the quality characters tested show ed a negative heterosis effect resulting in protein levels and Zeleny values close to or below the values of the lower parent. It appears to be possible to produce resistant F-1 hybrids, mostly dominated by the resistance level of the wheat partner. The quality of the hybrids is mainly suitable for biscuit and spelt specific products; it needs spec ific screening for combinations with acceptable breadmaking quality.