[Effect of genetic diversity in Hordeum vulgare L. and Secale cereale L. on their crossability and the development and viability of hybrid embryos and plants].

A study was made of the effect of genetic diversity in cultivated barley and rye on seed setting, embryonic development, and viability of barley x rye hybrids grown in vitro and planted. The variation in seed-setting frequency was shown to be determined mainly by vegetation conditions and random factors, while the variation in proportion of seeds with embryos among the total seed set was determined by the genetic diversity of barley and rye. Selection of barley genotypes was shown to increase the yield of viable barley x rye hybrids. Based on the phenotypic analysis of barely x rye hybrids obtained in various combinations, low viability and hybrid lethality were attributed to the hybrid necrosis genes expressed from early ontogeny. These genes are assumed to be widespread among barley and rye varieties.