A hybridization technique for orphan legumes: development of an artificial interspecific pollination protocol for Crotalaria spp.
Abstract
rotalaria brevidens: and C. ochroleuca commonly grown as
vegetables have been extensively studied. However, information
on breeding techniques is scanty. This study aimed to
develop an artificial interspecific pollination protocol for two
genotypes of Crotalaria with contrasting leaf and pod morphological
features. The two are landraces that were previously
collected from two counties in Kenya. The
experimental design was a completely randomized design
(CRD) in a greenhouse with C. ochroleuca as the female parent
and C. brevidens as the male parent. Six-day-old flower buds of
the female parent were emasculated. Pollen from a freshly
opened flower was rubbed over the stigma of the emasculated
flower.
The
pollinated
stigma
was
inserted
back
into
the
keel
petal
and
covered
by
the
wing
and
standard
petal.
Data
on
success
rate,
pod,
and
seed
production
were
subjected
to
analysis
of variance. The developed artificial pollination
method showed 75% success rate in the interspecies cross
of C. ochroleuca and C. brevidens. Time of crossing did not
significantly influence the success rate, pod, and seed production.
The
study
demonstrated
artificial
interspecific
pollination
of
Crotalaria
by keel petal incision rubbing method. This protocol
lays the foundation for genetic studies and improvement
of
Crotalaria
spp.