Interspecific and Intergeneric Hybrids of Saccharum spontaneum L

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Abstract
Observa-vations were made on the gametic contributions of the male and female parent in a number of intra and interspecific crosses in Saccharum and allied genera. The chromosome numbers from F1''s of intraspecific crosses of 5 variants of S. spontaneum indicates that only haploid gametes function in such crosses. When S. spontaneum Coimbatore is selfed, a few giant forms (3n), along with a large number of diploid plants with n + n gametic constitution were obtained. It is inferred that diploid egg gametes function in this variant. S. barberi and S. robustum contribute only haploid gametes in reciprocal crosses with S. spontaneum variants; S. officinarum, however, generally contributes diploid egg gametes in such crosses. In crosses between S. spontaneum and hybrid cane varieties with some S. spontaneum chromosomes, only haploid gametes were functional. Both 2n + n and n + n gametes were functional in intra and interspecific crosses of S. spontaneum x S. officinarum, S. spontaneum x Schlerostachya fusca, S. spontaneum x Narenga porphyrocoma, and S. spontaneum x Erianthus ciliares. The functioning of 2n + n as well as n +n gametes was observed in crosses between different varieties belonging to the same species and self-pollinations. Thus it would appear that the gametic contribution in a specific mating is not a critical criterion of genetic relationship.

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