Estimation of hybrid seed production and efficient pollen flow using insect pollination of male sterile soybeans in caged plots

The aptitude of leafcutter bees to pollinate male sterile soybean plants (ms2 gene) in caged plots was evaluated in four experiments from both quantitative and qualitative points of view. The m.s. plant seed set was satisfactory: on average, it represented 60% of the male fertile isogenic seed set (with a range between 44 and 69%). The lower yield of m.s. plants was linked with a smaller number of fertile reproductive nodes. The efficient pollen flow was observed over the flowering period with both morphological and electrophoretic markers. Insect behaviour was not influenced by flower colour. Differences between flowering duration of pollen donors appear to be the major factor inducing unbalanced populations. The interest of this technique as a tool for dynamic management of the genetic variation in populations or for hybrid seed production is discussed.