By Scout Nelson
Farmers in Kansas are being alerted to the recent discovery of a unique wheat and triticale hybrid plant in the state’s wheat fields. The Kansas Crop Improvement Association (KCIA) recently identified this wild hybrid plant, a surprising find according to KCIA’s Marion Spiering, manager of field services and seed certification.
“It wasn’t intentionally crossed,” she said, describing the plant as a mystery when it was first noticed in three locations over the summer.
The unusual plant is relatively easy to spot because it grows above the wheat canopy. Farmers inspecting their fields noticed the plant, with reports coming from south-central Kansas, including Dickinson and Marion counties.
While initially thought to be rye or triticale, a closer look revealed it was something else entirely. Genetic testing confirmed it to be a rare wheat-triticale hybrid. Spiering remarked, “Triticale already is a cross between wheat and rye, so I honestly didn’t know that a hybrid could hybridize again with wheat.”
This hybrid plant resembles a wheat head, though narrower and flatter, with fewer seeds — typically around three per plant. Although it poses no current threat to wheat production in Kansas, testing showed that 60% of its seeds are viable, meaning the hybrid could potentially impact wheat fields in the future.
Spiering encourages farmers who spot this hybrid in their fields to inform the KCIA, helping the association collect essential data for future monitoring and control. Farmers can remove the hybrid plants manually if they find them.
The KCIA assures producers that the current seed certification and inspection systems in Kansas keep this hybrid under control, minimizing any immediate impact on wheat production. “I want folks to know that this isn’t a big concern in Kansas right now,” Spiering said.
Farmers interested in more information about the Kansas Crop Improvement Association and their services can visit www.kscrop.org.
Photo Credit:gettyimages-ygrek
Categories: Kansas, Crops, Wheat, General