The reproductive biology and interspecific relations in three perennial Sesbania species

The reproductive biology of Sesbania sesban, S. goetzei and S. keniensis was studied. On average, flowering started after 123 (+16) days in S. sesban; 150 (+16) days in S. keniensis; and after 116 (+19) days in S. goetzei. A crossing experiment showed that S. sesban and S. goetzei are both self- and cross-compatible and that pods can be formed without tripping. There were marked differences in pod production between accessions within species. The somatic chromosome number was found to be 12 for all three species. Interspecific crossing between S. sesban X S. goetzei and S. sesban X S. keniensis resulted in pod and viable seed information.