Behaviour of triticale germplasm selected at ENMP by introgression of winter genes onto spring genotypes

In Portugal, almost all cultivated triticales are spring types based on CIMMYT germplasm selections. In spite of the decrease of cultivated area, due to CAP policies, farmers still grow triticales in their lands. The traditional use of this species was grain for feed. Now, new purposes can be considered, as grazing and silage. So,changes on some morphophysiological characters in the spring triticales currently used, are required. The introduction of day-length insensitive genes in all spring CIMMYT germplasm has led to the development of continuous growth cycle genotypes. This material, when planted early in the conditions of South Portugal, reaches the reproductive phase earlier in Winter when late frosts can occur. The novel breeding approach, in Estacao Nacional de Melhoramento de Plantas at Elvas, involves strategies to select materials with high tillering, longer vegetative growth phase and short grain filling period. Introgression of winter genes onto spring pool has been successfully conducted. Behaviour of the new germplasm is presented.