[Breeding rye varieties from inbred lines : I. Selfing-proportions in polycross progenies]

Proportions of polycross seed resulting from self-fertilization ("selfing-proportions" in short) were ascertained in homozygous inbred lines of rye (Secale cereale L.). The proportions could be determined in polycross progenies by visually recognizable differences between mbred and hybrid plants. The influence of genetic and environmental factors on the variability of the selfing-proportions was investigated.Polycross nurseries were planted in 1960 and 1961 at Scharnhorst, and in 1966 through 1968 at Hohenheim. Selfing-proportions were determined in 1961, 1962 and 1967 to 1969, respectively. Mean values varied among 41 lines from 4.3% to 85.9%, and among years from 34.93% to 56.37%, with an overall mean of 46.45%. Estimates of variance components showed 57.31% of the phenotypic variance to be caused by genetic effects, and only 16.00% by genotype-environment interactions. No significant variation was found between mean selfing-proportions of lines from different varietal sources. Polycross blocks with 4 plants per plot exhibited slightly higher selfing-proportions than blocks with 1 plant per plot.The findings are discussed as to various possible explanations, and with special regard to their bearing on the evaluation of combining ability and on establishing synthetic varieties.