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Comparative Fertility and Seed Yields of Parental Bermudagrass Clones and their Singlecross F₁ and F₂ Populations¹

Seed increase of hybrid Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. varieties could be facilitated if the F₁ or subsequent generations were used as intermediate classes in a conventional increase system. A 2-year study was conducted to 1) ascertain the feasibility of utilizing F₁ or F₂, or both, generations as pedigreed classes in a seed increase system by comparing their seed yield and fertility with parental clones, and 2) compare F₁ singlecross populations with a five-parent synthetic (Syn-1) for fertility and seed yield. Plant materials included: five Oklahoma clonal bermudagrass accessions (9945, 9959, 12156, SS-16, and SS-21), three F₁ singlecross combinations (9945 x 12156, 9959 x 12156, and SS-16 SS-21), and an F9 of each F₁. A five parent syn-1 generation polycross of clones 9959, 10978-b, 12156, and F₁ plants of the respective crosses 9959 x 10978-b and 9959 x 12156) was also included in the test. The percentages for self-pollinated (SP) seed set (range 0.4 to 3.6%) further demonstrate the relatively high degree of self-incompatibility for bermudagrass plants. The percentages for open-pollinated (OP) seed set (range 4.7 to 44.6%) and OP seed yields (range 20.8 to 337.8 kg ha^–1) were significantly correlated (r = 0.52) and lower than values reported previous studies. Seed yields and percent OP seed set of the 9945 x 12156 and 9959 x 12156 F₁ and F₂ populations equaled or exceeded the yields of their respective clonal parents during each of the 2 years. The LCB Syn-1 population had relatively high OP seed set and seed yields but its performance did not exceed that of the best clonal parent (9959) or singlecross population (9959 x 12156). The results indicate that F₁ singlecross combinations such as 9945 x 12156 and 9959 x 12156 can be used for the establishment of foundation seed increase plantings without sacrifice of seed yields.

Key Words: Cynodon dactylon (L.) • Seed set • Synthetic variety • Hybrids

² Graduate research assistant, professor, and assistant professor, respectively, Dep. of Agronomy, Oklahoma State Univ., Stillwater, OK 74078.

Received for publication January 24, 1983.