DISTANCE FROM POLLEN SOURCE AND YIELDS OF MALE STERILE SUNFLOWER AND SORGHUM

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Abstract
Efficient production of hybrid sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) seed requires a minimum but adequate proportion of the land for pollinator rows and that the male sterile and pollinator rows accommodate production machinery. The objective of this research was to determine the effect of distance from pollen source on male sterile seed yield and if presently used ratios of male sterile to pollinator rows could be increased without reduction in seed yield of the male sterile parent from the land area occupied by both parents. Seed was harvested from male sterile rows located from 1 (76 cm) to 40 (30 m) rows from the pollen source. Correlations and regression analyses showed that yield per row declined linearly with distance from the pollinator rows. However, yield of the male sterile parent per hectare of area occupied by both parents was increased by including up to at least six male sterile and two pollinator rows per strip. Male sterile to pollinator row ratios of 12:1 for sunflower and 7:1 for grain sorghum did not differ significantly from the commonly used 3:1 ratio in yield of male sterile parent per hectare of area occupied by both parents.Key words: Helianthus annuus L., Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench, hybrid seed production, plant breeding

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