A new hybrid

The most unusual hybrid is triticale. It is a hybrid between wheat and rye. Its name comes from a combination of the scientific names for wheat, Triticum, and rye, Secale. The first hybrids between wheat and rye were obtained as far back as in 1875. But those hybrids were highly sterile and did not reproduce.

At present there are triticales that can be produced commercially. Triticale is classified now as a feed grain. As such it is equivalent to other cereals. The grain quality is not yet good enough to use it for bread making. However, the laboratory tests conducted in Hungary show that satisfactory bread can be made from triticale and that the protein content of triticale grain is higher than that of wheat. But still up till now no triticale bread has been produced commercially in Hungary.

Triticale as a variety was first released for commercial production in Hungary in 1968. In North America the first variety of triticale was developed in 1970. Its name is Rosner. A few thousand hectars of triticale were grown in the Soviet Union in 1973.

There are winter and spring types of triticale. However, winter types are generally insufficiently hardy to withstand the low temperatures during the winter months. More attention is therefore paid by the scientists to the development of spring triticale.

The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center began international triticale program in 1969. Scientists in many countries of the world take part in the program. It has become possible to compare the productivity of triticale with that of wheat from year to year under a wide range of conditions.

Hilly areas and cool growth temperatures appear to provide best conditions for triticale growing. Good growth is obtained even when night temperatures approach freezing. It makes triticale a valuable forage and pasture crop. Triticale grows well on sandy soils. Much of commercial production of triticale is done on lighter sandy soils.

Compared to wheat, triticale is generally more susceptible to lodging¹. It is one of the problems to be solved by the scientists. The scientists are working now to develop triticale varieties with shorter and thicker stems. Such varieties will not lodge.

Shallow seeding is important, since germination is usually poor if triticale is seeded deeper than 9 centimeters.

Protein content of the hybrid can be 30 per cent, compared to 8 or 10 per cent for corn and 10-12 per cent for barley and wheat. And triticale protein is high in lysine and other essential amino acids, making it excellent as feed for livestock.

Triticale cannot yet compete with wheat and other cereals in quality and yield except in some specific conditions which have already been spoken about. Considerable breeding work must still be done to improve its grain quality and yield. The scientists believe triticale to be a promising crop.

Notes and Commentary

¹ lodging – полягання