| A new strain of Triticum polonicum H. KIHARA. K. YAMASHITA and M. TANAKA National Institute of Genetics, Misima, Biological Laboratory, Kyoto University, Kyoto, and Laboratory of Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan As mentioned in WIS No. 3, a species with the name of Triticum monococcum var. eredivianum was given to the senior authors1) by the courtesy of Dr. M. Atai, University of Tehran, Iran, revealed 2n=28, which is the chromosome number of Emmer wheat. (Ref. to Table 1 on page 20) Accordingly, the morphological characteristics have been studied into detail. The plant is semi-dwarf and has narrow and slender ear, differing strikingly from all other wheats in possessing ears with long and narrow empty glumes, which are typical in Triticum polonicum. Description: Straw: 60-70 cm, hollow with comparatively thick walls. Ears: 5-7 cm long; 6-8 mm wide, lax, narrow and slender, tapering towards the apex fragile in wedge type disarticulation. Spikelets: 14-17 (including 3-4 abortive lower spikelets), 14-17 mm long, 3-4 mm wide, 1- to 2- grained, with awns 4.5-5 cm long. Empty glume: Glabrous, light-yellow, 14-16 mm long, with 5-6 nerves, very short with two teeth or the secondary tooth is absent. Outer glume is slightly longer than inner glume and is as long as empty glume. Outer glume of the 1st floret has many nerves and a short awn, while that of the 2nd floret has a short tooth. Grains: Long and narrow, red, flinty, smooth, 8 mm long, 3 mm wide. 1.0-1.2 mm thick. In conclusion, this strain differs from other varieties of T. polonicum in having the following characters: 1. Semi-dwarf 2. Hollow straw 3. Ear narrow, slender, small and fragile. 4. Empty glume is not papyraceous. 5. Small grains. |
| 1) Members of the Scientific Expedition to the Karakoram-Hindukush of the Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan, 1955. |