Research notes: Hilum color as a genetic marker in soybean crosses

Abstract

<p>Artificial crossing of judiciously selected parents is a primary component of any soybean breeding program. Once hand-pollinations are made, however, it is crucial that actual crosses be distinguished from inadvertent female parent selfs prior to the planting of the F2 seed, since considerable labor and land resources would be wasted on putative F2 seed progenies that are later identified as the selfed progeny of the female parent used in the cross. While emasculation of the flowers of the female parent minimizes the occurrence of accidental selfs, removal of the anthers adds considerable time to each hand pollination (resulting in fewer crosses made) and inexperienced student or part-time workers often injure the female parts of the flower (resulting in a low success rate).</p>