Triticale is a hybrid cereal grain species that was first bred in laboratories during the late 19th century in Scotland and Germany. It is a cross between wheat (Triticum) and rye (Secale) and was developed to combine favorable traits from both parents. Commercially available triticale is almost always a second-generation hybrid, i.e., a cross between two kinds of primary (first-cross) triticales. Triticale combines the yield potential and grain quality of wheat with the disease and environmental tolerance (including soil conditions) of rye.
Triticale is a small-grain cereal developed to combine the quality and uniformity attributes of wheat with the vigor and hardiness of rye. It has the ability to perform well on marginal lands, is drought-tolerant, and has a yield advantage over wheat when harvested for grain or silage. Triticale grain yields are about 15 to 20 percent greater than those of Canadian Prairie Spring (CPS) wheat. Triticale is very resistant to leaf and stem rust, common bunt, and smut.
Triticale is rich in most vitamins and minerals than either of its two parents. It is also rich in manganese content, which is vital to the body as it assists in maintaining stress levels under control.
