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Expression of Heterosis in Sericea Lespedeza with Competitive vs Noncompetitive Plant Spacing¹

Open-pollinated and self progenies of 10 inbred lines of sericea, Lespedeza cuneata (Dumont) G. Don, were grown at both wide, noncompetitive, and close, competitive, spacings. The objective was to compare estimates of heterosis for the different levels of plant competition. Plant height was measured 6 weeks after transplanting, and yields of forage and seed were taken for 2 years. The 10 inbred lines were quite different in respect to height and forage and seed production. Heterosis was estimated as the percentage by which open-pollinated progenies of these lines exceeded self progenies within a given spacing. Average values of heterosis at close spacing greatly exceeded those at wide spacing for forage and seed yields. Estimates ranged from 4 to 18% for wide spacing and from 8 to 64% for close. The less-vigorous inbred lines, and particularly their self progenies, tended to be suppressed at the close spacing. Combining ability for vigor was expressed to a greater degree at the close spacing, a competitive condition much more like farm conditions than the spaced-plant nurseries of the plant breeder. The sericea breeder should be aware of the importance of progeny testing under close spacing to more accurately characterize vigor of breeding lines.

Key Words: Cleistogamous • Chasmogamous

² Research Agronomist, Plant Science Research Division, ARS, USDA, and Associate Professor of Crop Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, N. C.

Received for publication April 15, 1971.