Dwarfing genes of wheat and rye and its expression in triticale

Primary octoploid triticale have been produced by crossing GA(3) sensitive tall wheats with a GA(3) insensitive dwarf (ct2) rye as well as a GA(3) insensitive dwarf (Rht3) wheat with a GA(3) sensitive tall rye. After colchicine treatment and vegetative multiplication of the hybrids, grains were harvested and cytologically checked. Then a GA(3) seedling test was conducted. Whereas the triticales carrying the dominant Rhf3 dwarfing gene of wheat showed the expected GA(3) insensitivity, the triticales with the recessive ct2 dwarfing gene were GA(3) sensitive. Final plant heights were as expected from the results of the GA(3) test. It was suggested that the expression of ct2 is affected by genomic interactions between wheat and rye.