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Factors affecting field‐scale production of seed of F 1 hybrid Brussels sprouts
Author(s) -
FAULKNER G. J.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
annals of applied biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1744-7348
pISSN - 0003-4746
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-7348.1974.tb06884.x
Subject(s) - biology , pollen , selfing , hybrid seed , inbred strain , horticulture , agronomy , hybrid , botany , population , biochemistry , demography , sociology , gene
SUMMARY The two main factors involved in field‐scale production of seed of F 1 hybrid Brussels sprouts are pollen availability and honeybee behaviour. Pollen availability depends upon the extent of winter survival of the parent inbreds, their flowering times, plant size and on the number of flowers per plant. Plant losses varied between inbreds and between sites and seasons. Differences in the commencement of flowering time in pairs of inbreds varied from 7 to 21 days, and plant size affected flower number. In hybrid seed‐production there was a direct relationship between the number of mature flowers on each inbred and the percentage of non‐hybrid seed produced from that inbred. Bees were highly selective in their visits to inbreds, and a mean selfing‐to crossing‐movement ratio of 30:1 was observed. This behaviour, together with pollen availability, greatly influenced the production of ‘sibs’. Radioactive experiments showed that the amount of cross‐pollen carried by a bee decreased by about 30% at each flower visited but radioactive pollen grains were detected on the tenth flower visited. Of a number of factors investigated as possibly influencing bee behaviour, differences in flower colour and plant height were associated with discrimination between inbred lines.