dc.description.abstract |
To develop sound breeding strategies, it is necessary to understand the reproductive
biology and breeding systenls of a species. The consequences of inbreeding are particularly
inlportant as they influence the choice of progenitors, breeding population size and seed
orchard design. Though the tea species (C. sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze) is thought to have
evolved a pre-zygotic ganletophytic self-incoll1patibility systenl to reduce incidences of
selfing, upto 20% selfing was determined in some Kenyan tea gerlnplas111. Using the aniline
blue fluorescence assay to study incompability, successful "self' pollen penetrations were
observed though nlost did not result in successful fruit set. This 111ay indicate that tea has a
late acting self-inco111patibility systenl (LSI) or ovarian sterility (OS) type of control of
s~lfing. Data on fruit set indicated huge differences anlong the test genllplas111 indicating that
self-fertility varies anlong tea genetic resources and that tea ll1ay best be regarded as a
facultative out breeder. |
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