pnut pnut Peanut Science 0095-3679 0095-3679 American Peanut Research and Education Society 10.3146/i0095-3679-19-1-13 Articles Reproductive Efficiency in Reciprocal Crosses of Arachis duranensis and A. stenosperma with A. hypogaea cv. NC 61 Harold E. Pattee *, 2 and H. Thomas Stalker 3 Research Chemist, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Department of Botany, Box 7625 North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695–7625 Professor, Department of Crop Science, Box 7629, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695–7629

1The research reported in this paper was a cooperative effort of the Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture and the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service, Raleigh, NC 27695–7643. Partial funding was received from the Peanut CRSP, USAID grant number DAN-4048-G-SS-2065–00. The use of trade names in this publication does not imply endorsement by the United States Department of Agriculture or the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service of the products named, nor criticism of similar ones not mentioned.

 *Corresponding author. 1 1992 19 1 46 51 7 3 1992 American Peanut Research and Education Society 1992 American Peanut Research and Education Society Abstract

The wild species germplasm resources of Arachis are potentially valuable for improving disease and insect resistance in A. hypogaea L. Improving cultivars through interspecific hybridization is restricted because of reproductive barriers and/or genetic incompatibility with many Arachis spp. A description of reproductive efficiency in reciprocal crosses between wild and cultivated Arachis species is needed to clarify potentials for germplasm utilization. This study documents reproductive efficiency using the diploid species A. duranensis (K 7988) and A. stenosperma (HLK 410) in reciprocal crosses with A. hypogaea cv. NC 6. A significant parental effect was observed among crosses and NC 6 was more successful when used as the female parent. Differences in total reproductive efficiency were not observed between the two wild diploid species. However, when A. duranensis was used as a female parent embryos aborted at a high frequency. In contrast, the reduced efficiency observed with A. stenosperma was due to lower fertilization. As attempts are made to utilize the genetic resources of Arachis, different approaches will be needed to overcome reproductive barriers which restrict introgression of potentially desirable traits.

 Key Words Interspecific hybridization; , fertilization timing; , abortion; , peanut; , groundnut