New geographical distribution of Aegilops columnaris
H. KIHARA, K. YAMASHITA and M. TANAKA
National Institute of Genetics, Misima, and Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
Among 120 Aegilops triuncialis strains collected from 48 habitats
by the Kyoto University Scientific Expedition in 1955, 21 from 4 habitats
in Iran as given in the following table, were identified as Ae. columnaris
var, typica (6 strains) and var. glabriuscula (15 strains)
on closer morphological studies.
Those strains were crossed with Ae. triuncialis and Ae. columnaris
of our old collection to verify the identification. In the hybrids with
the former species (6-9)II+(16-10)I were observed,
while in the hybrids with the latter there were 14II or 1IV
+12II. The former hybrids were sterile, while the latter were
entirely fertile. These results indicate that those strains belong to
Ae. columnaris.
According to Eig (1929), Ae. columnaris occupies a very limited
area in Asia Minor. In the light of the present studies, however, the
distribution area of this species extends as far as the western and central
parts of Iran.
(Received Oct. 15, 1957)