Seed‐set and pollen–stigma compatibility in Leymus chinensis

Chinese leymus [Leymus chinensis (Trin.) Tzvel.] is an important forage distributed in East Asia. The seed‐set rates and the pollen–stigma compatibility in six populations were investigated in 2001. Proportionately seed‐set ranged from 0·065 to 0·567 under open pollination and 0·0056 to 0·0426 under self‐pollination. The former is significantly higher than the latter in each population. Microscopic observations showed that proportionately only 0·0551 to 0·1167 of self‐pollinated pollen grains were compatible but most cross‐pollinated pollen grains were compatible. The tubes of most incompatible pollen grains aborted upon entering into the stigmas. Among the six populations, there was a significant correlation between seed‐set under open pollination and the compatible pollen rates under cross‐pollination. These results suggest that Chinese leymus is a self‐incompatible species, and the compatibility of pollen and stigma might be one of the factors influencing seed‐set in natural conditions. This information will be useful for future breeding efforts.