SEED PRODUCTION ON DETACHED CULMS OF PEARL-MILLET X ELEPHANTGRASS HEXAPLOID HYBRIDS

Five nutrient solutions were evaluated in the greenhouse to determine which solutions would allow detached culms of Pennisetum to produce se ed, The genotypes tested originated from the hybridization of Penniset um glaucum L. (Pearl millet) x P. pennisetum Schum, (elephantgrass), T he solutions were water, Hoagland's, sucrose, sucrose + hydroxyquinoli ne sulfate (HQ), and Hoagland's + sucrose + HQ. Neither the water nor the Hoagland's solution supported high seed set, Although the sucrose solution enhanced seed production, the seeds were low in weight and di d not germinate well, The best nutrient solutions were 2% sucrose +0.0 2% HQ or Hoagland's +2% sucrose +0.02% HQ, The four genotypes used dif fered substantially in seed production, but all produced seed, with ge rmination >25%, This result indicates that the cut-culm technique is a possible way of getting recurrent restricted phenotypic selection see d in Pennisetum hexaploid hybrids.