Embryological studies of reciprocal crosses between Vicia faba and Vicia narbonensis

A study was undertaken to asses the reciprocal crossability between Vicia faba and Vicia narbonensis. Flower buds or only ovaries of several varietes and genotypes were cross-pollinated in vivo (green house and field) and in vitro. Only few pollen tubes passed the style and entered into the ovary. On the whole number of 5320 cross pollinated in vivo and in vitro flowers and ovaries of Vicia narbonensis only 78 globular hybrid embryos were observed. After cross pollination in vivo of 3860 flower buds and ovaries of Vicia faba globular embryos developed in 124 ovules. The highest number of globular embryos were obtained when the Vicia faba line 1/33 was pollinated with Vicia narbonensis lines P3, P5, 150, SE.Embryogenesis proceeded till the 6-10 day after pollination, however, karyological disturbances in the cells of embryos and endosperm were often noticed at earlier stages. In vitro pollen grains of Vicia faba germinated on stigmas and ovaries of Vicia narbonensis, a significant increase in the growth of pollen tubes was noticed after ovary pollination. The technique of in vitro pollination was not suitable for Vicia faba as the inoculated explants died shortly after transferring onto the medium. The results indicate that finding a more suitable genotype for crossing may give a chance to obtain higher number of embryos (example line 1/33) - thus sufficient number for culturing them on media