II.52. Experimental programs at the Welsh Plant Breeding Station, Plas Gogerddan, Aberystwyth, Wales.
Among the experimental programs being conducted at the Welsh Plant Breeding Station, Plas Gogerddan, Aberystwyth, are the following which are of interest to barley geneticists. The names of the research workers involved are given in brackets ( ).
Interrelationship of genes conferring resistance to various pests and diseases, including the cereal cyst nematode (R. Cook), mildew (I. T. Jones), rhynchosporium (R. M. Habgood), and brown and yellow rust (B. Clifford) and Barley Yellow Dwarf virus (P. Catherall).
Studies of the genetic systems controlling the morphological and physiological factors controlling yield and its components in spring barley (J. D. Hayes, M. A. Khalifa (research student) and R. H. Williams (research student)).
Production of homozygous barley lines by anther culture (D. Clapham, D. L. Jones).
The production and evaluation of experimental F1 hybrids using male sterile genes in different genetic backgrounds in order to determine the extent, occurrence and nature of yield heterosis (C. A. Foster, J. E. Jones).
The development of genetic and cytogenetic mechanisms suitable for the production of F1 hybrid varieties. This includes screening for differential phytotoxicity to agrochemicals linked with male sterile genes, screening for fertility or sterility inducing chemicals, isolation of new types and sources of male sterility, developing new Balanced Tertiary Trisomic stocks, linkage studies and selecting suitable pollinator lines (C. A. Foster and J. E. Jones).