Abstract
Nearly a century has passed since the first crosses were made between wheat (Triticum L.) and perennial Triticeae relatives with the goal of developing a perennial grain and forage crop. Numerous crosses of different species and genera have been attempted, and many have yielded fertile hybrids. Despite these successes, a definitive taxonomic treatment of stable hybrids has never been established. “Perennial wheat” is the term commonly used to refer to these hybrids when the traits of interest are the perennial growth habit and grain yield, regardless of parentage. In order to establish a consistent system in which researchers can effectively communicate and collaborate, it is important to characterize unique combinations. In this paper we briefly outline the history of perennial wheat breeding, suggest a naming convention based on the International Code for Nomenclature and describe one combination within the new nothogenus ×Tritipyrum. The development of perennial grains has the potential to allow for new agricultural systems that take advantage of the persistent nature of the crop. The taxonomic definition of this new crop type will help focus research and breeding efforts as well as organize the literature and facilitate collaboration.
Highlights
Efforts to develop a perennial grain and forage crop by crossing wheat (Triticum L.) with perennial relatives began in the early part of the 20th century (White 1940)
Researchers in multiple countries established the interfertility of wheat with various species of wheatgrass and undertook breeding projects to combine the agronomics of the wheat crop with the persistence these wild relatives (Peto 1936; Smith 1942)
This recognition reflects her research on intergeneric combinations and suggestion that ‘‘Avoidance of further confusion in nomenclature merits a close cooperation of both cyto-geneticists and taxonomists in naming newly obtained aberrants, spontaneous or induced, that may become destined to exist as permanent species (Aase 1946).’’ A description of a cultivar from this species is offered as an example of additional information that can be included at the variety level to aid breeding efforts. 3Tritipyrum Curwen-McAdams et al nothogen. nov. [Triticum L. 9Thinopyrum A
Summary
Efforts to develop a perennial grain and forage crop by crossing wheat (Triticum L.) with perennial relatives began in the early part of the 20th century (White 1940). The species name is in honor of Dr Hannah Aase, a pioneering cytogeneticist who conducted early work on cereal crops at Washington State University (Aase 1926) This recognition reflects her research on intergeneric combinations and suggestion that ‘‘Avoidance of further confusion in nomenclature merits a close cooperation of both cyto-geneticists and taxonomists in naming newly obtained aberrants, spontaneous or induced, that may become destined to exist as permanent species (Aase 1946).’’ A description of a cultivar from this species is offered as an example of additional information that can be included at the variety level to aid breeding efforts. Breeding work conducted at Washington State University over the last 20 years has yielded diverse 9Tritipyrum aaseae combinations with different genetic backgrounds These lines display a range of phenotypes and are stable at 56 chromosomes with 42 coming from the wheat parent and 14 from Th. ponticum.
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