The Seed Yielding Ability of Synthetic Populations (SYN-1, SYN-2) of Alfalfa (Medicago Media Pers) in Climatic Conditions of Poland

Abstract

In Polish climatic conditions alfalfa tends to set insufficient amounts of seeds contributing to the reduction of its cultivation. This is why one of the most important objectives of breeding of synthetic cultivars of this plant is high seed yield as well as high yield of fresh matter. In years 1987, 1988 and 1989 an experiment was established with 9 synthetic populations of alfalfa in generations Syn-1 and Syn-2 using the system of complet random blocks in four replications with the aim to evaluate the yields of fresh matter and seeds. The seeds were sown in rows 40 cm apart on 10 m² plots. Polish cultivars of alfalfa “Radius” and “Boja” served as models. Variance analysis was performed and coefficients determining the repeatabilities for fresh matter and seed yields as well as for traits connected with them were calculated.

The inbred lines were selected from 56 inbred lines on the basis of general combining ability (g.c.a.) and specific combining ability (s.c.a.). The seed yield of the discussed populations was a mutable trait as evidenced from the results of the conducted variance analysis. The analysis of variance revealed significant differences in seed yields between individual populations.Tables 1 and 2 show seed yields of synthetic populations.