UTILIZATION OF POLLEN STERILITY IN RYE AN D TRITICALE FOR ERGOT PRODUCTION

Ergot production in pollen-sterile plants of rye and triticale allows to obtain a high weight of sclerotia per area unit and a product of lo w proportion of caryopses of the host crop. Mutual affinity of ergot [ Claviceps purpurea (Fr.) Tul.] and host plant is very important in thi s respect. With this aim 12 selected triticale genotypes were tested i n terms of an amount of obtained sclerotia per area unit and content o f active ingredient - ergocristine. Spring triticale varieties produce d greater amount of ergocristine per spike than winter triticale. The highest amount of active ingredient after inoculation with ergot was o btained from spring triticale Moloc. Of 18 CMS rye lines by ergotamine production, line R1 suited best for commercial utilization. This new CMS analog of rye R1 was tested in experimental and practical conditio ns and its biological and economic characteristics were compared with CMS analog, up to now exclusively used for commercial ergot production . CMS R1 gives lower and comparable yield of sclerotia, in terms of th eir better quality the yield of active ingredient is fully comparable, even higher. In seed production trial with CMS R1 about 23% lower num ber of grains per spike was achieved compared with a fertile form R1. Sink capacity was not changed what gives possibilities to improve the seed yield by better cross pollination. Slightly reduced grain weight in CMS form (about 7%) was not manifested in germinative capacity of s eeds. As to the seed production and price, arrangement of hybridizatio n belts 1.5 m apart and in ratio 2 CMS : 1 fertile form is recommended .