BREEDING SYSTEMS OF SEVERAL VICIA SPECIES

Information on the breeding system of plants is crucial for maintenance of accessions in germplasm banks. Controlled pollination experiments were conducted in the field to determine the breeding systems of several Vicia species. Vicia articulata Hornem., V. benghalensis L., V. ervilia (L.) Willd., V. lutea L., and V. sativa L. were automatic self-fertilizing species. Vicia pannonica Crantz was nonautomatic self-fertilizing. Vicia villosa Roth ssp. villosa and V. villosa Roth ssp. varia (Host) Corbiere were cross-fertilizing. Therefore, regeneration of the accessions of the latter two species requires the use of procedures that provide isolation from foreign pollen.