Selffertilization in Campanula rotundifolia L. s. 1. group

Abstract

Artificial selfpollination of six taxa of C. rotundifolia L. group was perfomed. More than 60% of the tetraploid plants and diploid C. rotundifolia s. str. representatives set seeds which germinated in some 42-76%. The seed setting in C. serrata was a little lower and the germination was very poor (0.07%). Only 18% of C. cochleariifolia 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 C. cochleariifolia and C. serrata, but it seems that in nature they are strong enough even at a tetraploid level.