Millet as a model-crop to assess the impact of gene flow toward weed populations

Data on pollen dispersal and interspecific crosses between foxtail millet, an autogamous summer cereal, and the green foxtail, are reported. Progeny o f hybrids are identified as the giant green foxtail, a botanical variety of green foxtail called "major". Growth and reproduction of the two wild type s are compared as well as their competition effect against maize. The fitne ss associated with a herbicide resistance gene transferred to millet is stu died. The results are used to make inferences about the impact of gene flow from the crop to its wild relative.