Evaluation of rapid crossing techniques for haploid production in wheat by wheat x maize crosses

Abstract

The wheat x maize system of producing wheat haploids has distinct advantages over other systems (anther culture, bulbosum system) - such as low genotypic specificity, negligible gametoclonal variation and absence of albinism. Currently, one of the most labour-intensive procedures in wheat x maize system involves the emasculation and pollination steps. In the generally followed method for these crosses, glu'mes are kept intact to ensure beUer seed development in contrast to the conventional wheat x wheat crosses where the glumes are clipped to expose the ovaries [1]. Intact glumes need to be forced open for emasculation as well as pollination. Moreover, the pollination process has to be carried out floret by floret rather than for the whole ear in one step. In this paper we have evaluated different modifications in manual crossing procedure in order to cut down the time and labour involved.