DURUM WHEAT X BARLEY HYBRID
Tritordeum (XTritordeum Ascherson et Graebner) is
the amphiploid derived from the cross between a South American
wild barley (Hordeum chilense Roem. et Schult.) and wheat. Because
this amphiploid has shown the agronomic characteristics of a new
crop, we decided to evaluated the possible uses of this new cereal
and its role in agriculture. For this reason, in the last five
years, several lines of tritordeum have been evaluated, along
with some lines of durum. The results have indicated that both
hexa- and octoploid tritordeum exhibit quality characteristics
similar to those of bread wheat and very different to those of
durum wheat. Likewise, a wide range for quality characters has
been shown between the tritordeum-tested lines. Several works,
also, have suggested that the H. chilense line seems be to associated
with the storage proteins from both parents. Although the hexaploid
tritordeum have exhibited baking properties slightly poorer that
those of bread wheat, any of the lines analyzed had been improved
for quality. On this basis, we think that the role of tritordeum
and H. chilense in the food industry could be similar to that
of bread wheat, although the end-use and potential cultivated-zone
are yet to be determined.
L.M. Martin, J.B. Alvarez, M.J. Gimenez, A. Martin.
Departamento de Genetica, Escuela Tecnica Superior de Ingenieros,
Agronomos y de Montes, Universidad de Cordoba, Spain; Departamento
de Agronomia y Mejora Genetica Vegetal, Instituto de Agricultura
Sostenible, CSIC, Cordoba, Spain.
(IPGRI)
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