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Production of F1 Seed in Castorbeans by Use of Sex Genes Sensitive to Environment 1
Author(s) -
Zimmerman L. H.,
Smith J. D.
Publication year - 1966
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.2135/cropsci1966.0011183x000600050005x
Subject(s) - selfing , raceme , biology , stamen , plant reproductive morphology , genotype , gene , genetics , botany , hybrid , pollen , inflorescence , population , demography , sociology
By growing castorbeans, Ricinus communis L., in different environments, genotypes were obtained with both the N‐pistillate gene ƒ for female racemes and environmentally sensitive genes for interspersed‐staminate flowers. These genotypes were homozygous for the ƒ gene, but not always for the genes for interspersed‐staminate flowers. With penetrance of the genes for interspersed‐staminate flowers at a location having high summer te~nperatures, a July average of 91 F, plants were propagated by selfing or sibbing. With nonpenetrance at locations having lower summer temperatures, July averages of 75 to 83 F, F 1 hybrid seed was produced without roguing. Previous methods using the ƒ gene required roguing monoecious plants from the female parent, often involving more than 50% of the plants. In test crosses, presence of interspersed‐staminate flowers was recessive to absence. There was wide variation among genotypes tested for frequency of interspersed‐staminate flowers, suggesting a polygenic system with considerable opportunity for selection.