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Fertility and Inbreeding Studies of Cicer Milkvetch (Astragalus cicer L.)

Estimates of cross- and self-fertility were made on 34 cicer milkvetch (Astragalus cicer L.) clones in 1970. Crossfertility was estimated by measuring seed set under openpollination, and self-fertility was estimated by measuring seed set both from selfing in isolation by native bees and selfing by hand. Seed obtained from four clones were seeded in flats In the greenhouse to study the effect of inbreeding on seedling growth.

Cicer flowers were most fertile during the first 3 weeks of flowering. Self-fertility, estimated by pods-per-available-flowers of all cicer milkvetch clones was 9.8% following self-pollination by hand. Self-fertility of four clones under spatial isolation was 58.9% pods-per-availableflowers. Cross-fertility of all clones under open-pollination was 61.4%. Bees were more effective in achieving selffertilization than hand manipulation. Selfing reduced the growth of cicer seedlings by 32%. Cicer milkvetch is naturally cross-pollinated with a relatively high degree of self-fertility when there is no cross-pollen available and pollination is done by natural pollinators.

Key Words: Pollination • Spatial isolation • Seedling growth

² Formerly Research Assistant (now Agronomist, Soil Conservatios Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Miles City, Montana 59301); formerly Associate Professor, Department of Plant and Soil Science, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana 59715 (now Research Director, K&K Seed Company, Conrad, Montana 59425); and Manager, Plant Materials Center, Soil Conservation Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Bridger, Montana 59014.

Received for publication March 10, 1972.