Manuel Ramirez, age 43, of Austin, Texas, for his question:

WHEN WAS TRITICALE DEVELOPED?

Triticale, which is pronounced tri tuh kay lee, is a grain produced by crossbreeding wheat and rye. Botanists first crossbred the two grains in 1876. This process yielded a hybrid plant that could not produce seeds. But in 1937, scientists discovered that treating wheat rye seedlings with a chemical called colchicine made the plants fertile.

Triticale has a high nutritional contet because it contains more useful protein than either wheat or rye.

Someday triticale may become an important food in countries not suited for wheat production.

Experts also predict that triticale will probably be used in many countries as an animal feed. Livestock often grows faster when fed triticale rather than other grains.