Triticale

With the beginnings of modern plant breeding at the end of the 19th century, the hope arose to develop a species that combines the positive characteristics of two different species through artificial crossing and subsequent selection. In 1888, it was possible for the first time to produce fertile offspring by crossing wheat and rye - the birth of Triticale. Triticale combines the undemanding nature and the winter hardiness of rye with the yield potential of wheat. These characteristics also make it attractive for organic cultivation.

Systematic breeding of triticale began about 50 years ago. Most of the triticale harvest is used as pig feed. Due to the composition of the amino acids, triticale is comparably well suited as a feed grain as wheat. Triticale flour is hardly used for human nutrition.

Globally, Europe is the most important triticale production region. Germany, Poland, and France are the largest producers in Europe. Important markets for Triticale are as well the Czech Republic, Austria and Hungary.

The cultivation of triticale increased rapidly in the 1990s. In 2002, more than half a million hectares of triticale were cultivated e.g. only in Germany. Afterwards, cultivation declined again, not least due to the more stable yields of hybrid rye on weaker sites. Triticale competes primarily with feed wheat or, as a silage crop, with rye, and less with winter barley. Due to its more intensive root system, triticale requires less nitrogen than wheat for a comparably high yield but is by no means a healthy crop. In the future, triticale cultivation could become more important again if triticale is cultivated as an alternative to second wheat, followed by a break crop or maize. With winter rye, a more extensive production technique is possible, and it is also superior to triticale in stress situations. However, on somewhat better soils or for farmers who take intensive care of the crops, triticale is often the more economical alternative. In order to keep triticale cultivation attractive and competitive in the long term, it is necessary to breed high-yielding and healthy varieties.

The SAATEN-UNION breeders Nordsaat Saatzucht and PHP Petersen, among others, are intensively working on this topic. Notable major varieties for the European markets in the past were MODUS from Nordsaat, which has maintained its position as market leader for many years. Afterwards TULUS was launched, a variety with high and stable yield potential, which is also characterized by very good health and straw stability.


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