THE TAXONOMY AND NOMENCLATURE OF THE WHEATS, BARLEYS, AND RYES AND THEIR WILD RELATIVES

Abstract

The correct name for the tribe that contains the wheats, barleys, and ryes and their wild relatives is TRITICEAE Dumort. The genus Triticum L. emend. is treated to include both the diploid, allotetraploid, and allohexaploid wheats (Triticum L.), and the diploid species and the allotetraploid and allohexaploid species of interspecific hybrid origin that were formerly placed in the genus Aegilops L. In the geuus Triticum L. emend., there are 10 diploid species; one allotetraploid wheat species of hybrid origin (T. turgidum L. emend.) which includes many cultivars, three botanical varieties, and one auto-allohexaploid form; one allohexaploid wheat (T. × aestivum L. emend.) which is a hybrid complex that includes many cultivars; 10 other allotetraploid or allohexaploid species of interspecific hybrid origin; and numerous other artificial and natural interspecific hybrids. Section HORDEUM of the genus Hordeum L. contains the cultivated barleys and their wild relatives which are all classified under one species, H. vulgare L. emend. The taxonomy of the ryes and the genus Secale L. is considered briefly.