Abstract: Morphological characteristics of inflorescences are important factors in seed production performance. In Gramineae, the size of the inflorescence, number of spikelets and florets, and the characteristics of the lemma, palea and awn can influence the development of seeds. Inflorescence characteristics of different lines of triticale (C2 and C35) and rye corn (C13 and C33) were compared. The inflorescence of triticale [(14.30±0.52) cm×(1.24±0.09) cm] was clearly larger than the rye inflorescence [(13.20±0.35) cm×(0.82±0.02) cm)], spikelet numbers in rye corn (30.20±0.79) were higher than that of triticale (21.35±1.47), flowers number in rye was 2 flowers per spikelet with little variation, while flower numbers in triticale did vary ranging from 3-4 flowers/spikelet. Comparisons of flowers from the middle of the inflorescence indicated that the length [(1.27±0.11) cm] and width [(0.26±0.03) cm] of lower glume and the length [(1.30±0.09) cm] and width [(0.23±0.04) cm] of the upper glume in triticale were significantly larger than the length [(1.04±0.05) cm] and width [(0.08±0.01) cm] of the lower glume and the length [(0.94±0.10) cm] and width [(0.06±0.01) cm] of the upper glume in rye (P<0.05). The width [(0.32±0.03) cm], height [(0.24±0.03) cm] of lemma and awn length [(8.35±0.51) cm] in the first flower and the width [(0.35±0.04) cm] and height [(0.25±0.05) cm] of lemma and awn length [(8.37±1.19) cm] in the second flower of triticale was significantly higher than those in rye [(0.26±0.01) cm, (0.25±0.01) cm, (0.15±0.01) cm, (0.17±0.01) cm, (5.50±0.19) cm and (5.18±0.23) cm respectively]. Lemma [(1.35±0.06) cm; (1.37±0.06) cm] and palea [(0.84±0.04) cm; (1.41±0.06) cm] length in the first and second flower in triticale were less than in rye, (1.49±0.05) cm; (1.47±0.05) cm and (1.45±0.05) cm; (1.47±0.04) cm respectively. The number of grains per panicle in triticale [(52.50±1.80) grains] was significantly lower than that of rye (P<0.05) but the grain weight per ear [(2.08±0.04) g], grain weight [(0.04±0.00) g] and grain width [(3.04±0.32) mm] were significantly higher than rye (P<0.01). Triticale grains were oval or elongated oval in shape, pale yellow in colour, plump with a wrinkled epidermis while rye grains were narrowed fusiform with smooth skin and a laurel-green colour. Results of Pearson correlation analysis between flower structure and grain traits of rye and triticale revealed there were positive correlations between seed length and length of the inflorescence and the number of spikelet in the base of the inflorescence (P<0.05), and seed width was significantly positively correlated inflorescence length (P<0.01). Grain weight per ear and the number of grains per spike were significantly correlated with the width of the lower and upper glume (P<0.01), respectively. Seed length in rye positively correlated to glume length of the second flower in the middle spikelet (P<0.05), while grain number per ear and the height of lemma in the second flower of the middle spikelet were negatively correlation (P<0.01). The structural characteristics of triticale and rye inflorescences are important for correctly distinguishing the two and understanding seed production differences.

Key words: triticale (×Triticosecale);, rye (Secale cereal), inflorescence, structural characteristics, grain traits