Combining Ability in Alfalfa Hybrids Made with Cytoplasmic Male Sterility
1972
Pedersen, M. W. | Jill, R. R.
Seventy alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) hybrids were produced by crossing l0 cytoplasmic male-sterile parents with 7 untested male parents. Variance components due to males, σ²M, females, σ²F, and their interactions, σ²MF, were estimated for yield during two growing seasons and for pollen production in one season. Variance components, σ²F and σ²MF, were more important than σ²M for yield in the year of establishment. Components, σ²M and σ²F, were approximately equal, and σ²MF was unimportant for yield in the second growing season. The only important component of variance for pollen production was σ²M. The greater importance of σ²F and σ²MF in the year of establishment was attributed to a correlation between seed weight and yield. The small value of σ²MF after the year of establishment indicated that parents could be selected for general combining ability without testing numerous specific combinations. Correlations between pollen production and forage yield were very small and nonsignificant, indicating that male fertility would not have to be restored in alfalfa hybrids used for forage production.
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