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Effect of Temperature on Self- and Cross-Compatibility and In Vitro Pollen Growth Characteristics in Alfalfa¹

Five selected alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) clones were evaluated for self-compatibility, cross-compatibility, and pollen growth characteristics under four temperature treatments. Crosses were made with and without emasculation. An increase in temperature resulted in a decrease in self- or cross-compatibility estimates. Field results were similar to those obtained at 32C in the growth chamber.

Clonal differences existed, but a highly significant clone x temperature interaction for all characteristics measured showed that these clones would not be expected to perform the same in all environments. Cross- and self-compatibility or male and female cross-compatibility estimates were generally not correlated. Some plants performed differently as male and female parents. Female cross-compatibility was correlated between 21 and 27C and between 27C and the field study temperatures. Higher correlations were found for male cross-compatibility values from the different temperature regimes. The cross-compatibility estimates from the crosses produced with and without alcohol emasculatiort were not correlated. Pollen germination was affected by the temperatures at which the plants were grown, whereas pollen tube elongation was affected more by incubation temperatures. Male cross-compatibility was correlated with pollen germination.

Key Words: Clone x temperature interaction • Emasculation • Female-male compatibility

² Former Graduate Assistant and Professor of Agronomy, respectively, Department of Agronomy, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, 88003.

Received for publication March 18, 1973.