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 Veronesi, F. Articles by Lorenzetti, F. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Veronesi, F. Articles by Lorenzetti, F. Agricola Articles by Veronesi, F. Articles by Lorenzetti, F.

Productivity and Survival of Alfalfa Hybrid and Inbred Plants Under Competitive Conditions¹

A study was conducted at Perugla, Italy in 1981 to evaluate the importance of intra-specific competition in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and to investigate the consequence of different percentages of inbred seeds on forage yield. Three seed mixtures having ratios of inbred seed to hybrid seed (S₁/F₁) of 1/9, 3/7, 1/1 were sown, seed by seed, in micro-plots (50 x 30 cm) at a seeding rate of 1600 seeds/m². Data were collected on establishment, green matter yield per plant of inbred or hybrid origin, dry matter yield per plot at first, second, and third cut, height and number of stems per plant at the third cut, and number of plants alive in the fall season. The results are summarized as follows: 1) yield of S₁ plants was much lower than that of F₁ in each of the three mixtures; the inbreeding effect was higher than that usually shown in spaced plant trials; 2) since no differences were observed in dry matter yield per plot among mixtures, differences in S₁ seed percentage would not seem important to productivity of alfalfa in the 1st year; and 3) no differences were observed in establishment between S₁ and F₁ seedlings but fall survival percentages of S₁ plants were significantly lower than those of F₁ in all mixtures. This confirms that selective elimination of S₁ plants begins during the seeding year. The selection against S₁ plants increases over time and suggests that 1 year after seeding few S₁ plants will survive irrespective of their percentage in the initial seed lot.

Key Words: Competition • Inbreds • Hybrids • Yield • Medicago sativa L.

² Assistant professor and professor, Istituto di Miglioramento Genetico Vegetale, Univ. degli Studi di Perugia, 06100 Perugia (Italy).

Received for publication August 26, 1982.