The Effects of Cross & Self-Fertilisation in the Vegetable KingdomDarwin, Charles
Science
The Effects of Cross & Self-Fertilisation in the Vegetable Kingdom
Darwin, Charles
Fertilization of plants; Plants -- Variation; Pollination
Seedlings raised as before from the crossed and self-fertilised plants
of the third generation in Table 2/3, gave results as follows:--
TABLE 2/5. Ipomoea purpurea (Fourth Generation).
Heights of Plants in inches:
Column 1: Number (Name) of Pot.
Column 2: Crossed Plants.
Column 3: Self-fertilised Plants.
Pot 1 : 84 : 80.
Pot 1 : 47 : 44 1/2.
Pot 2 : 83 : 73 1/2.
Pot 2 : 59 : 51 1/2.
Pot 3 : 82 : 56 1/2.
Pot 3 : 65 1/2 : 63.
Pot 3 : 68 : 52.
Total : 488.5 : 421.0.
Here the average height of the seven crossed plants is 69.78 inches, and
that of the seven self-fertilised plants 60.14; or as 100 to 86. This
smaller difference relatively to that in the former generations, may be
attributed to the plants having been raised during the depth of winter,
and consequently to their not having grown vigorously, as was shown by
their general appearance and from several of them never reaching the
summits of the rods. In Pot 2, one of the self-fertilised plants was for
a long time taller by two inches than its opponent, but was ultimately
beaten by it, so that all the crossed plants exceeded their opponents in
height. Of twenty-eight capsules produced by the crossed plants
fertilised by pollen from a distinct plant, each contained on an average
4.75 seeds; of twenty-seven self-fertilised capsules on the
self-fertilised plants, each contained on an average 4.47 seeds; so that
the proportion of seeds in the crossed and self-fertilised capsules was
as 100 to 94.
Some of the same seeds, from which the plants in Table 2/5 had been
raised, were planted, after they had germinated on damp sand, in a
square tub, in which a large Brugmansia had long been growing. The soil
was extremely poor and full of roots; six crossed seeds were planted in
one corner, and six self-fertilised seeds in the opposite corner. All
the seedlings from the latter soon died excepting one, and this grew to
the height of only 1 1/2 inches. Of the crossed plants three survived,
and they grew to the height of 2 1/2 inches, but were not able to twine
round a stick; nevertheless, to my surprise, they produced some small
miserable flowers. The crossed plants thus had a decided advantage over
the self-fertilised plants under this extremity of bad conditions.
CROSSED AND SELF-FERTILISED PLANTS OF THE FIFTH GENERATION.
These were raised in the same manner as before, and when measured gave
the following results:--
TABLE 2/6. Ipomoea purpurea (Fifth Generation).
Heights of Plants in inches:
Column 1: Number (Name) of Pot.
Column 2: Crossed Plants.
Column 3: Self-fertilised Plants.
Pot 1 : 96 : 73.
Pot 1 : 86 : 78.
Pot 1 : 69 : 29.
Pot 2 : 84 : 51.
Pot 2 : 84 : 84.
Pot 2 : 76 1/4 : 59.
Total : 495.25 : 374.00.
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