HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Rosales, F. E. Articles by Davis, D. D. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Rosales, F. E. Articles by Davis, D. D. Agricola Articles by Rosales, F. E. Articles by Davis, D. D.

Performance of Cytoplasmic Male-Sterile Cotton Under Natural Crossing in New Mexico¹

Cytoplasmic male-sterile (Gossypium harknessii Brandg. x Gossypium hirsutum⁶ L.) lines versus similar malefertile lines of cotton were evaluated for yield and lint percentage under conditions of natural pollination for 2 years at Las Cruces, N.M. Two locations distinguished by their relative distance from a honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) apiary were used each year.

Bee populations appeared to be a major factor in these experiments. Fewer bees were apparently necessary for good pollination of the male-sterile lines than was previously reported. Eight of the twelve comparisons for yield between steriles and fertiles were statistically significant. The male-sterile lines produced less seed cotton and lint each year in the field more distant from the bee hives. Near the apiary, the steriles produced significantly more seed cotton and seed than the fertiles. No significant differences were detected for the interactions of sterility x pollinators or of sterility x nectaries for any of the agronomic traits studied, although there were some indications that there was a partial honey bee preference for nectaried plants.

Breeding programs which include improved Cytoplasmic male-sterile strains and adequate populations of honey bees may provide the means for commercial production of hybrids.

Key Words: Gossypium hirsutum L. • Gossypium harknessii Brandg. • Gossypium barbadense L. • Honeybees • (Apis Mellifera L.) • Nectariless • Yield • Lint percentage

² Former graduate research assistant (now graduate research assistant, Dep. of Agronomy, Oklahoma State Univ., Stillwater, OK 74074) and associate professor, respectively. Dep. of Agronomy, New Mexico State Univ. Las Cruces, NM 88003.

Received for publication May 18, 1975.