Natural crossing in cotton

Abstract

The amount of natural crossing in cotton fields is of significance in current breeding methodology and in the development of new methods which attempt to make use of hybrid vigor. It is suggested that more critical methods of estimating the amount of natural crossing than those presently employed would be desirable. The possible advantages of obtaining estimates from segregating populations, rather than mechanical mixtures of contrasted stocks, are outlined briefly. The most generally important factor in natural crossing is the size of the effective bee population. A rapid method of measuring the relative activity of bees, involving distribution of finely powdered dye particles during flower visitation, and applicable in any field of cotton, is presented. © 1953, The New York Botanical Garden. All rights reserved.