Diversity and Seasonal Variability of Leaf Surface Micromorphology in Wheat-Related Hybrids with Wheatgrass Ancestry

This study used cryoSEM to analyze the seasonal stability of leaf surface micromorphology in cereal hybrids derived from crossing maternal ×Trititrigia cziczinii × Thinopyrum junceum lines with paternal wheat–wheatgrass hybrids. Over two growing seasons, relatively rare traits showed high stability, while most traits exhibiting initial diversity demonstrated seasonal variability. Paternal traits (hairs, prickles, elongated silica cells) predominated in hybrids, and hybrid diversity correlated significantly with paternal, but not maternal, line diversity. In 2025, a significant decrease in some paternally specific traits and an increase in rounded silica cells were observed compared to 2024. Coordinated dynamics were revealed: variations in maternal traits correlated positively with each other and negatively with some paternal traits. While certain micromorphological features exhibited relative stability, employing such traits for taxonomic purposes necessitates caution and a thorough understanding of their inherent variability ranges.