BGN 1: Haploidy offers a new breeding technique for barley BARLEY GENETICS NEWSLETTER, VOL. 1, II. RESEARCH NOTES
Kasha and Reinbergs, pp. 24-25

II.13 Haploidy offers a new breeding technique for barley.

K. J. Kasha and E. Reinbergs. Crop Science Department, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.

Recent investigations of the interspecific cross between cultivated barley (Hordeum vulgare) and Hordeum bulbosum have revealed that large numbers of haploids of cultivated barley can be produced (Kao & Kasha, 1969; Kasha & Kao, 1970; Lange, 1969; Symko, 1969). Haploids, plants containing only half the normal number of chromosomes, can apparently be produced from any line of cultivated barley. When their chromosome number is doubled, true-breeding genetically homozygous lines are produced.

The production of haploids from F1 plants in the breeding program should reduce by at least 3 generations the length of time required to develop new lines or varieties of barley. Furthermore, the resulting homozygous lines should allow the breeder to more effectively select the best lines for further testing. Their uniformity and the absence of apparent mutations in such lines grown in the field for observation in 1970 was encouraging.

The real advantages and disadvantages of utilizing haploidy in a breeding program can only be proven through actual evaluation. Part of the barley breeding program at Guelph will now be utilizing the haploid technique. We are presently producing haploids from F1 plants in the growth rooms and expect to have doubled lines for field evaluations in 1971. You are most welcome to drop in and see the program.

Kao, K. N.,and K. J. Kasha, 1969. Proc.2nd International Barley Genetics Symp., Pullman, Wash.

Kasha, K. J., and K. N. Kao, 1970. Nature 225:874-6.

Lange, W., 1969. Versl. Landbouwkund. Onderzoek. No. 719, pp. 161.

Symko, S., 1969. Can. J. Genet. Cytol. 11:602-608.

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