Embryo-callus regenerated hybrids and amphidiploids of barley cultivars x rye inbred lines

In the presented hybridization programme of barley cultivars and rye inbred lines including 48 cross combinations the seed set ranged from 3.13 to 92.98%, while embryos were formed in 0.74 to 36.36% in successful pollinations. Sixty five plants were generated by embryo callus culture and one - by embryo culture without callus formation. The hybrids had somatic chromosome numbers 2n=14 (60 plants) and 2n=28 (6 plants). Plants obtained via embryo callus culture showed good vegetative vigour and well-developed root system. Spike morphology of all plants resembled that of rye. Meiosis in 17 diploids showed 0.13-0.63 barley-barley and rye-rye bivalents with a chiasma frequency of 0.14-0.69 per cell. The heteromorphic bivalent-like configurations occurred in five plants in 0.01-0.02 per cell. The amphidiploids had 7.79-10.71 barley-barley and rye-rye bivalents with a chiasma frequency of 9.36-17.75 per cell. All plants, with 14 and 28 chromosomes, were completely sterile both in backcrosses and when selfed.