Potential for gene transfer between wheat (Triticum aestivum) and jointed goatgrass (Aegilops cylindrica)

Jointed goatgrass is a major weed in the wheat-producing areas of the western U.S. It shares the D genome with wheat, and interspecific hybrids between the two species occur in the field. The objective of this research was to determine if wheat x jointed goatgrass hybrids could serve to transfer genes from wheat to jointed goatgrass. A backcrossing program was initiated in the greenhouse between wheat x jointed goatgrass hybrids and either jointed goatgrass or wheat to determine the potential for seed set and the restoration of self-fertility. Seed was set by backcrossing with either species as the recurrent parent. Female fertility increased from 2% in the hybrid to 37% in the BC2 plants with jointed goatgrass as the recurrent parent. Partial self-fertility was restored in the second backcross (BC2) generation using jointed goatgrass as the recurrent parent. This indicates that genes could be transferred between wheat and jointed goatgrass after only two backcrosses. The number of bivalents observed in the plants during meiosis appeared to be key to increasing female fertility and self-fertility. Based on the results of this study, it is possible for genes to move from wheat to jointed goatgrass. Any release of a herbicide-resistant wheat should be accompanied by a management plan that would minimize the potential for gene movement between these species.