Natural outcrossing in lathyrus satlvus L.

The extent of natural outcrossing was studied in three genotypes of Lathyrus sativus L. (grasspea) in November 1992 and 1993 at the Pulses Research Centre, Regional Agricultural Research Station, Ishurdi, Pabna, Bangladesh. Individual plots of red, pink and white flowered (all recessive) genotypes were surrounded by a dominant marker line with blue flowers. The number of blue flowered plants in the progeny rows of 30 random plants of each test genotype was recorded. The extent of outcrossing was 27.8% for red, 19.4% for pink, and 9.8% for the white genotypes. Differences among genotypes were significant. It was assumed that these differences were due to brightness of flower colour which attracted bees. Implications of out crossing to future breeding strategies and maintenance of genetic purity of varieties are discussed.