Plant breeding and crop improvement: Triticale is a man made cereal derived by crossing which two parental crops to combine yield and hardiness traits?

Introduction / Context:
Triticale is a human created hybrid cereal that integrates the high yield and grain quality of wheat with the hardiness and disease tolerance of rye. It demonstrates how classical breeding and chromosome manipulation can generate new crops tailored to specific agronomic needs.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Goal: create a cereal combining desirable traits of two species.
• Rye contributes stress tolerance and robust rooting.
• Wheat contributes grain quality and yield potential.

Concept / Approach:
Triticale arises from intergeneric hybridization between wheat (Triticum) and rye (Secale), often followed by chromosome doubling to restore fertility (amphiploidy). The resulting crop can be tailored for marginal soils and specific feed or food uses.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Crop breeding references describe triticale as a wheat rye hybrid with documented chromosome sets derived from both parents.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Wheat with rice or tapioca: these crosses are not the basis of triticale.
• Rye and rice: unrelated to the triticale lineage.
• Barley and oat: different cereals, not triticale parents.

Common Pitfalls:
Confusing triticale with other cereal hybrids or assuming it involves rice due to global importance of rice.

Final Answer:
Rye (Secale) and wheat