UNREDUCED GAMETES IN INTERSPECIFIC HYBRIDS IN THE FESTUCA LOLIUM COMPLEX/

Self-sterile interspecific hybrids between diploid Lolium perenne and either Festuca arundinacea or F. gigantea (both hexaploids) set some s eeds when subjected to a heavy pollen cloud from the amphiploids deriv ed from the hybrids. All the progeny were octoploid and were formed fr om the fertilization of unreduced gametes in the F-1 hybrid by amphipl oid pollen. The significance of the results in relation to breeding ef forts within the Lolium/Festuca complex is discussed.