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Isolation of Haploids of Tetraploid Alfalfa 1
Author(s) -
Bingham T.
Publication year - 1971
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/cropsci1971.0011183x001100030038x
Subject(s) - biology , ploidy , pollen , seedling , botany , doubled haploidy , chromosome , genetics , gene
Isolation of 178 haploids (2n=2x=16) of tetraploid alfalfa (2n=4x=32) by the 4x−2x cross method is described. Haploids were obtained from 28 out of 34 tetraploid seed parents, indicating most cultivated tetraploids are capable of haploid production. Seed parents varied in haploid frequency from 0 to 10 haploids per 1000 flowers pollinated with diploid pollen. The diploid pollinator also affected the frequency of haploids. Use of a seedling marker and distinctive morphological characteristics of haploids minimized the number of plants on which chromosome counts were required. Screening for spontaneously occurring haploids in breeding populations and in twin seedlings was inefficient. The potential use of haploids in alfalfa research was discussed.