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Comparison of S₁ and Open-Pollination Progenies of Astragalus cicer L. for Certain Agronomic Characters¹

Self- (S₁) and open-pollination (O.P.) progenies of 24 self-compatible S₀ plants of cicer milkvetch (Astragalus cicer L.) were evaluated in the field for forage yield, height, spread, vigor score, and date of flowering. One generation of inbreeding had such a deleterious effect on plant vigor that paired S₁ and O.P. progenies could be differentiated visually. Forage yields of the S₁ progenies were approximately 50% of the forage yields of O.P. progenies. Considerable variation occurred among S₀ plants for inbreeding depression. Inbreeding delayed flowering approximately 10 days in the seedling year, but there was little difference between the S₁ and O.P. progenies for mean date of flowering in subsequent growth periods. There was no relationship between the self-compatibility of the S₀ parents and forage yields of their S₁ and O.P. progenies.

There were significant differences among S₀ parents for general combining ability. Open-pollination progenies of several S₀ plants with average vigor performed better than similar progenies of S₀ plants with excellent vigor.

Simple correlation coefficients between forage yield, height, spread, vigor score, and date of flowering were highly significant. The associations between vigor score and forage yield were the highest with coefficients of —0.93, —0.91, and —0.92 for the one harvest in 1970 and the first and second harvests in 1971, respectively.

Key Words: Cicer milkvetch • Self-compatibility • General combining ability

² Research Geneticist, PSRD, ARS, USDA, and Faculty Affiliate, Department of Agronomy, Colorado State University.

Received for publication May 3, 1972.