dc.description.abstract |
Information on the potential of pollen mediated gene flow (PMGF) in
sorghum is required for ensuring varietal purity and to mitigate risk
transgenic gene flow. Replicated trials were conducted in Kenya using
a local landrace, Ochuti as pollen donor surrounded by male-sterile
pollen baits. Frequency of PMGF decreased with the increase of
distance from pollen sources and was significantly influenced by wind
direction and speed. Anther dehiscence correlated with increase in
vapour pressure deficit in the morning. A negative exponential
regression model with logarithmic transformation of PMGF and
square-root transformation of distance from source field best fitted the
data. Up to 50% of female florets on a male sterile (MS) plant were
pollinated at 1m from pollen source and declined to 14% at 10 m.The
maximum distance of PMGF using the PMGF model, based on a
threshold of one seed per MS plant, was 203 m when data above the
95th percentile is considered. However, in the presence of self produced
pollen of male-fertile target plants, the possibility of long distance
cross-pollination may be very low. |
en_US |