Genetic stability in triticale estimated by pollen viability

Abstract

The study aimed to infer about the genetic stability from the pollen viability in hexaploid triticale genotypes used in block crossings breeding program from Brazilian Company of Agriculture Research (Embrapa Wheat). The experiments were conducted in a randomized design. For each genotype five repetitions were assessed. Each replication consisted of one plant and each replication consisted of one plant. Two hundred pollen grains were analyzed by optical microscopy and by the squash technique with 1% acetic carmine dye per slide, totalizing 1,000 pollen grains per genotype. The variables analyzed were: binucleate and trinucleate pollen grains, with little starch, empty, with more than one pore and with different sizes. The data were submitted to analysis of variance and compared by Tukey test at 1%. There were significant differences between all variables. The percentage of binucleate and/or trinucleate grains ranged from 74 to 97%. We conclude that 66% of genotypes present pollen viability above 90% and they are indicated to remain of the breeding program of triticale, both in the selection of parenting as during the crossing and backcrossing. Therefore, the cytogenetic studies represent excellent support tool for breeder in selecting the most stable genotypes.