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Effects of Years, Planting Arrangements, and Methods of Pollination on Combining Ability for Seed Set of Alfalfa¹

Five selected alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) clones were crossed in diallel manner to determine the effects of environmental factors on combining ability for seed set. General combining ability (CCA) was more important than specific combining (SCA) or reciprocal effects in determining seed set in these crosses. Significant interactions for CCA occurred with years (age of plants), planting arrangements in seed production and methods of pollination. SCA was significant in 2 of the 3 years, in both planting arrangements and in crosses pollinated by honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) and hand crosses made without emasculation. The only significant interaction involving SCA was with years (age of plants). Reciprocal effects were significant in 2 of the 3 years, in both planting arrangements and in hand crosses made without emasculation. Significant interactions for reciprocal effects occurred with years, crossing arrangements, and in comparing honeybee pollinated crosses with hand crosses produced without emasculation.

Results show that crossing environments can influence estimates of combining ability for seed set. It was also suggested that factors other than incompatibility of clones can influence SCA and reciprocal differences.

Key Words: Self-fertility • Seed production

² Former graduate assistants, associate professor of experimental statistics, and professor of agronomy, respectively, N. M. State U. Las Cruces NM 88003.