High frequency of haploid production of wheat through intergeneric cross with teosinte.

Thirty-nine genotypes of maize (Zea mays L.) and one genotype of teosinte (Zea mays ssp. mexicana ) were investigated for the production of haploid plants in common wheat (Triticum aestivum L. var. Nishikazekomugi). The method to product them was followed: the detached wheat spikes pollinated by teosinte or maize genotypes were cultured in a solution of 100mg/l 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, 10ml/l ethanol, 0.8ml/l sulfurous acid and 40g/l sucrose for 16 days, and subsequently excised embryos were cultured on B5 medium. Wheat × teosinte cross was the highest in frequency of embryo obtained (38.5%) and in haploid frequency per pollinated florets (31.5%). It is suggested that teosinte can be used effectively in haploid breeding programs of wheat employing intergeneric crosses.