NATURAL HYBRIDIZATION ON PIGEONPEA GROWN IN THE BRAZILIAN SEMIARID

The extension of natural hybridization on pigeon pea was evaluated on individual plants and on plants in a row, using two different genotype s and two planting times at Petrolina, State of Pernambuco, Brazil. Th e color of the stem was used as a genetic marker due to the simple inh eritance and the complete dominance of the purple color over the green color. The natural hybridization was higher in the second harvest tha n in the first one and also higher on individual plants than on plants in a row. Significant differences were not found in the natural hybri dization between the two genotypes and also between the two planting t imes. The natural hybridization rate varied from 2.50% to 13.36% for i ndividual plants and from 0.86% to 2.24% for plants in a row.