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Effect of Different Levels of Pollen Production on Polycross Seed Yield in Alfalfa¹

Recent studies have shown relationships among pollen production, and percentages of hybrid seed produced as well as self- and cross-fertility. It was the objective of this study to evaluate pollen production as a possible selection criterion for seed yield in a polycross breeding situation.

A source population of 212 unreplicated plants was evaluated for pollen production using a visual scale of 1 (no dehisced pollen) to 5 (abundant pollen). Five plants were selected within each of pollen indices 1, 3, and 5. These plants were vegetatively propagated and arranged in polycross crossing blocks. Screen cages were used for isolation and honeybees (Apis mellifera) provided pollination. Separate propagules were used for self-fertility determinations

Self-fertility and seed yield were greatest on plants with abundant pollen production and lowest on those plants with no visually dehisced pollen. Seed yield did not in. crease in linear pattern according to pollen abundance. Seed production of plants classified as intermediate in pollen abundance was closer to the high than the low pollen producers.

When all plants were combined in the same crossing block, seed yteld of the low pollen producers increased but not to the same level as the other plants. This suggests that factors other than pollen production were involved in determining seed yield of these plants. Pollen production would be a simple and inexpensive selection criterion to eliminate plants with low seed yield potential.

Key Words: Medicago sativa L. • Self-fertility • Breeding methodology • Heterozygrosity

² Professor of agronomy, New Mexico State Univ., Las Cruces.

Received for publication October 19, 1978.