Effect of Age of Plant on Compatibility Levels in Mid-Late Maturity Group of Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. Var. Botrytis)

Studies were carried out on six genotypes (PalamUphar, DPCa Y-2, DPCa Y-3, DPCa Y-4, DPCa Y-5 and DPCa Y-6) of mid-late group of cauliflower at Experimental Farm of the Department of Vegetable Science and Floriculture, CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur during the period from September 2010 to June 2011 to find out the levels of compatibility. The pollination treatments included self-pollination in open flowers at 25% flowering (OP-I), self-pollination in open flowers at 50- 75% flowering (OP-II) and self-pollination in open flowers at more than 75% flowering (OP-III). Majority of the plants in all the genotypes studied were in the compatibility grade 0-10 per cent, whereas, there was little change in the genotypes DPCa Y-2, DPCa Y-3, DPCa Y-4, DPCa Y-5 and DPCa Y-6 for the number of plants in the compatibility grade 0-10 except PalamUphar (OP-III). Hence, those plants falling in 0-10 compatibility grade can be used for the isolation of S-allele homozygotes for the development of selfincompatible lines for hybrid development.