Frequency of Aneuploids in Progenies of Autotriploid Barley, Hordeum Vulgare L

Chromosome counts of 863 progeny plants originating from 68 autotriploid barley plants revealed a considerable variation in chromosome numbers ranging from the diploid number (2n= 14) to 2n= 39. The most frequent groups were plants with 15 and 16 chromosomes each constituting about 27% of all progeny plants. Diploid plants and plants with 1 to 5 extra chromosomes constituted about 85% of the progeny plants. The remaining 15% had chromosome numbers from 20 to 39. Plants with the euploid numbers of chromosomes. 21, 28, and 35, were not more frequent than plants with aneuploid numbers between these groups. The results show that barley, although a diploid species, has a high tolerance for extra chromosomes.