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Morphology and Technique for Crossing Lens esculenta Moench
Author(s) -
Wilson V. E.
Publication year - 1972
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/cropsci1972.0011183x001200020026x
Subject(s) - petal , biology , calyx , stamen , dehiscence , botany , horticulture , pollen , sepal
Small size, fragility, and cleistogamous nature of lentil ( Lens esculenta Moench.) flowers made manual crossing difficult. Study of the morphological characters and development of flower buds showed that the optimum stage for successful manual crossing occurs as the petals reach one‐half to three‐fourths the length of the calyx lobes. This development occurs during stigma receptiveness but prior to anther dehiscence. Temperatures between 15 and 25 C and relative humidity above 50% favored manual crossing in the greenhouse. Crossing attempts made in the field were unsuccessful.