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Hybrid Alfalfa Seed Production Using a Female-Sterile Pollenizer¹

A recently discovered female-sterile trait in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) was used as a male pollenizer along with three cytoplasmic male-sterile clones to study the feasibility of mixed plantings for hybrid alfalfa seed production. Rows with mixed stands of male-sterile (seed parent) and female-sterile (pollenzier) clones produced significantly more seed than alternate rows of seed parent and pollenizer clones. Leafcutter bees [Megachile rotundata (Fabricius)] served as pollinators. Significant differences were noted among cytoplasmic male-sterile clones for seed set. Their average yield was only 76% of the first-year seed yield in an adjacent experiment. Commercial lines with the femalesterile trait and more attractive cytoplasmic male-steriles are needed before hybrid seed yields will equal those of conventional synthetics.

Key Words: Medicago sativa L. • Male-sterile • Megachile rotundata (F.)

² Senior agronomist, Land O'Lakes, Inc., R. 6, Caldwell, ID 83605 and professor, Dep. of Agronomy, Univ. of Wisc., Madison, WI 53706.

Received for publication January 27, 1984.