For the production of hybrid and synthetic varieties, high rates of cross-fertilization are needed. Two aspects of cross-fertilization in Vicia faba L. were studied at Wageningen in 1989 and 1990. The occurrence of cross-fertilization between pollen receptor lines in large-scale assays for crossfertilization was determined. Furthermore, the contribution of the genotype of the donor, of the receptor, and of their specific interactions in terms of cross-fertilization rate were studied.
Inter-receptor cross-fertilization may represent from 2 to 70% of the total cross-fertilization. Interreceptor cross-fertilization increases when donors and receptors do not match for flowering height.
The genotype of the receptor appeared to be of importance for the cross-fertilization rate. No differences in cross-fertilization rate due to genetic differences between pollen donors were noticed. Also no significant specific donor x receptor interaction effect on cross-fertilization rate could be observed.