Selffertilization in Campanula rotundifolia L. s. 1. group

Abstract

Artificial selfpollination of six taxa of <i>C. rotundifolia</i> L. group was perfomed. More than 60% of the tetraploid plants and diploid <i>C. rotundifolia</i> s. str. representatives set seeds which germinated in some 42-76%. The seed setting in <i>C. serrata</i> was a little lower and the germination was very poor (0.07%). Only 18% of <i>C. cochleariifolia</i> plants yielded seeds after selfpollination. These seeds failed to germinate. The selfed offspring was viable only in part. Some developmental distur-bances were observed. A general tendency to reduction of height of stems and of the number of flowers per stem was also noted in successive selfed generations. A gradual decrease of pollen fertility was also observed. No tendency to gradual decrease of selfed seed fertility and germination was demonstrated. The factors preventing selffertilization proved to be efficient in <i>C. cochleariifolia</i> and <i>C. serrata</i>, but it seems that in nature they are strong enough even at a tetraploid level.