Some aspects of cross-pollination in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). 3. Anther length and number of pollen grains per anther

Summary

In a search for characters of good pollen donors on the hybrid wheat seed production field, the anther length and number of pollen grains per anther were investigated in five spring wheat varieties. For both characters significant differences were established. Taking 300 anthers per variety, the mean anther lengths varied from 2.99 to 3.84 mm. With the same anthers the mean number of pollen grains per anther ranged from 1746 to 2856. The correlation coefficients of both characters within varieties run from 0.431 to 0.752 and were invariably significant. Linear regression showed that the slopes of the regression lines of the various varieties differed significantly. Combination of a fast increase of the number of pollen grains per anther at increasing anther length and a large anther length should be useful. Between varieties the correlation coefficient of anther length and number of pollen grains per anther amounted to 0.895, significant at a P<0.05. The knowledge that genotypes with large anthers also produce many pollen grains per anther facilitates the selection for a high pollen production per anther. Some relationship appears to exist between number of pollen grains per anther and pollen donor capacity on the field.