Pollination studies with highly-inbred lines of winter beans (Vicia faba L.)

Summary Pollination treatments were carried out on highly inbred lines of winter beans over a period of four years. Tripping produced an inferior seed-set compared with all treatments involving emasculation and hand pollination with either cross or self-pollen. It is suggested that with highly inbred lines the stigmatic surface requires some form of scarification to improve the seed-set. Most lines showed no preference for cross or self-pollen, and there was no evidence of self-incompatibility. Bud and mature flower pollination gave an improved seed-set over tripping in all lines. One inbred line gave a high seed-set in all pollination treatments. Results from another line were consistent with a short period of ovule receptiveness. Using data obtained from three experiments, two self-pollination treatments were used to screen breeding lines for their suitability as components of synthetic varieties. Significant differences in seed-set were found between the lines.