Natural cross-pollination in some vegetable crops.

Abstract

The amount of natural cross pollination was studied with various field experiments involving tomato, egg plant, Hibiscus esculentus [Abelmoschus esculentus] and radish. The rates varied from nil in the spring/summer tomato crop to 3.84% at 60 cm spacing in the autumn/winter crop. The latter was reduced to 1.74% at 240 cm when the rows were interspaced by three other crops. When one variety was sown in concentric circles round a central pollinating variety, the levels were 2.87% at 60 cm and 2.50% at 120 cm between varieties. The levels in Solatium melongena were 1.10% at 60 cm and 1.14% at 240 cm, and 1.99, 1.47 and 1.36% at distances of 60, 180 and 240 cm respectively when grown in concentric circles. In H. esculentus the results showed 9.16% at 60 cm and 5% at 240 cm with 9.51, 5.90 and 3.54% at 60, 120 and 180 cm respectively in concentric circles. In radish at 60 cm, 56.76% was recorded and 26.67% at 240 cm, with 35-37, 14.22 and 7.8% at 60, 120 and 180 cm respectively in concentric circles