Effects ofpollinator line characteristics on quantity and quality of monogerm hybrid seed production in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.)

A two-year experiment was carried out to study the effects of pollinator line characteristics on the quantity and quality of monogerm hybrid seed production in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) and select proper pollinator for five promising sugar beet cytoplasmic male sterile lines (CMSs) during 2012-2013 growing seasons. In this study, four diploid pollinator lines were crossed by five CMSs of sugar beet. It was proved that the concurrence of flowering time between female and male parents and pollen and pollination characters is essential for sugar beet hybrid seed production. Pollinator lines SHR01-P.12 and F-8662 had the largest number of pollens. The duration of pollination for SHR01-P.12 and F-8662 was longer than other pollinator lines.Moreover, the most synchronizationof male and female recipient flowers was related to the pollen donors of SHR01-P.12 and F-8662 by the pollen receptors of 7112×SB36 and SB37×28874. Hybrids derived from crosses of CMS lines with pollinator lines SHR01-P.12 and F-8662 had significantly less empty seed percentage and the highest raw seed yield, saleable seed yield, standard seed percentage, while hybrid seeds derived from crosses of pollinator line S1-88239 by CMS lines had the lowest quantity and quality. Our results showed that unlike CMS lines 7112*436, the CMS lines 7112×SB36 and SB37×28874 419*SB36 and 261 231 produced the highest number of seeds with the highest quality.