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Hybrid Alfalfa Seed Production Using a Female‐Sterile Pollenizer 1
Author(s) -
Brown D. E.,
Bingham E. T.
Publication year - 1984
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/cropsci1984.0011183x002400060047x
Subject(s) - biology , hybrid seed , pollinator , trait , medicago sativa , horticulture , botany , cytoplasmic male sterility , pollination , agronomy , hybrid , pollen , sterility , computer science , programming language
A recently discovered female‐sterile trait in alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) was used as a male pollenizer along with three cytoplasmic male‐sterile clones to study the feasibility of mixed plantings for hybrid alfalfa seed production. Rows with mixed stands of male‐sterile (seed parent) and female‐sterile (pollenzier) clones produced significantly more seed than alternate rows of seed parent and pollenizer clones. Leafcutter bees [ Megachile rotundata (Fabricius)] served as pollinators. Significant differences were noted among cytoplasmic male‐sterile clones for seed set. Their average yield was only 76% of the first‐year seed yield in an adjacent experiment. Commercial lines with the femalesterile trait and more attractive cytoplasmic male‐steriles are needed before hybrid seed yields will equal those of conventional synthetics.