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Effect of 2-Chloroethylphosphonic Acid (Ethephon) on Female Fertility of Two Wheat Varieties¹

Female fertility was determined in greenhouse and field-grown chemical male-sterile lines (C-lines) of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) following application of 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid (Ethephon) as a gametocide. In greenhouse studies, number of seed per spike and percent of F₁ hybrid seed produced on C-lines did not differ significantly from male-sterile B-lines following hand pollination for both lines. At pre-, early, mid-, and late boot stages, all rates of Ethephon resulted in 87% or more F₁ seed. Progeny from seed set on plants treated in the field in 1970 and 1971 showed that the percent outcrossing ranged from 5 to 100%. Based on the percent hybrid seed obtained, the optimumst ages for field application in ‘Nugaines’ wheat were pre, early, and midboot at chemical dosages of 1,500 to 3,000 ppm. Sensitivity to Ethephon treatment appeared to be greater in the greenhouse than in the field. Under field conditions significant increases in seed set on nonbagged spikes over that of bagged spikes for field grown C-lines were shown. This observation coupled with the significant occurrence of hybrid seed produced on C-lines grown in the field or in the greenhouse indicate that female fertility was high following chemical sterilization by Ethephon

Key Words: Gametocide • Female fertility • Ethylene • Hybrid wheat

² Superintendent, Sierra Foothills Range Field Station, University of California, and Associate Professor, respectively, Department of Agronomya nd Soils, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99163.

Received for publication April 24, 1973.