Effects of Induced Sterility and Distance on the Incidence of Out-Pollination in Rice

The effects of gamma ray dose, induced sterility and the distance between pollen donor and recipient lines on the incidence of cross-fertilization were studied in two varieties belonging to the two subspecies, viz., japonica and indica of Oryza sativa. While higher doses of gamma rays and increased sterility of M, panicles led to an increase in the incidence of cross-fertilization, increasing distances between pollen donor and recipient lines reduced the frequency of hybrid seedlings. Differences between the two varieties in their response to foreign pollen was also observed.