Field Crop 2024, Vol.7, No.5, 261-269 http://cropscipublisher.com/index.php/fc 262 2 Triticale Cultivation and Its Agronomic Characteristics 2.1 Historical background of triticale Triticale (×Triticosecale Wittm.) is a hybrid cereal derived from the cross between wheat (Triticumspp.) and rye (Secale cereale L.) (Figure 1). It was first developed in the late 19th century with the aim of combining the high yield potential and grain quality of wheat with the disease resistance and environmental tolerance of rye. Over the years, triticale has been improved through selective breeding to enhance its agronomic traits, making it a viable crop for various agricultural systems (Ketterings et al., 2015; Jańczak-Pieniążek, 2023). Figure 1 Phenotypes of wheat (Triticum aestivum; left), rye (Secale cereale; middle), and their hybrid, triticale (right): (a-c) cultivation fields; (d-f) single ears; and (g) seeds (Adapted from Gaviley et al., 2024) 2.2 Agronomic traits favorable for crop rotation Triticale exhibits several agronomic traits that make it favorable for crop rotation systems. It has greater early vigor, a longer spike formation phase, reduced tillering, increased remobilization of carbohydrates to the grain, early vigorous root growth, and higher transpiration use efficiency compared to wheat (Bassu et al., 2011). These traits contribute to its ability to out-yield wheat in both favorable and unfavorable growing conditions, making it a robust option for diverse environmental conditions (Tamagno et al., 2022). Additionally, triticale's ability to fix nitrogen when grown in rotation with legumes such as cowpea, faba bean, and pea, enhances soil nitrogen levels, which benefits subsequent crops (Oliveira et al., 2019). This nitrogen-fixing capability is particularly beneficial in Mediterranean climates where water availability can be a limiting factor. Furthermore, triticale's adaptability to saline-alkali soils and its positive impact on soil microbial communities make it an excellent candidate for improving soil health and productivity in challenging environments (Zhang et al., 2022).
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