Abstract: An improved process for the economical production of F.sub.1 hybrid Oryza sativa plants (i.e., hybrid rice plants of the first filial generation) is provided. Novel female fertile male sterile rice plants which are perennial and capable of retaining viability through the winter are planted in combination with annual female fertile male fertile restorer plants which are killed during the winter. Accordingly, the substantial expense of establishing the required male sterile plants at the beginning of each growing season effectively is eliminated. The seeds formed on the perennial male sterile plants are capable of forming annual male fertile F.sub.1 hybrid Oryza sativa plants. In preferred embodiments additional properties are incorporated into the parent rice plants (as described) which further enhance the F.sub.1 seed production.

Abstract: An improved process for the economical production of F.sub.1 hybrid Oryza sativa plants (i.e., hybrid rice plants of the first filial generation) is provided. Novel female fertile male sterile rice plants which are perennial and capable of retaining viability through the winter are planted in combination with annual female fertile male fertile restorer plants which are killed during the winter. Accordingly, the substantial expense of establishing the required male sterile plants at the beginning of each growing season effectively is eliminated. The seeds formed on the perennial male sterile plants are capable of forming annual male fertile F.sub.1 hybrid Oryza sativa plants. In preferred embodiments additional properties are incorporated into the parent rice plants (as described) which further enhance the F.sub.1 seed production.

Abstract: An improved procedure for forming F.sub.1 hybrid Oryza sativa plants (i.e., hybrid rice plants of the first filial generation) is provided which is capable of being economically implemented on a commercial scale. Plants of the seed and pollen parents each possess a combination of characteristics (as described) which readily facilitate cross-pollination in the absence of the use of labor intensive procedures such as the clippings of flag leaves. The seeds formed on each parent are recovered in bulk and are separated on the basis of a genetic marker. The hybrid rice plants of the F.sub.1 generation unlike those of the seed parent possess long flag leaves which extend upwardly to a greater maximum height than the tips of the panicles whereby photosynthesis can be accomplished on an efficient basis.

Abstract: An improved procedure for forming F.sub.1 hybrid Oryza sativa plants (i.e., hybrid rice plants of the first filial generation) is provided which is capable of being economically implemented on a commercial scale. Plants of the seed and pollen parents each possess a combination of characteristics (as described) which readily facilitate cross-pollination in the absence of the application of a growth hormone and the use of labor intensive procedures such as the clipping of flag leaves. The seeds formed on each parent are recovered in bulk and are separated on the basis of a genetic marker. The hybrid rice plants of the F.sub.1 generation unlike those of the seed parent possess long flag leaves which extend upwardly to a greater maximum height than the tips of the panicles whereby photosynthesis can be accomplished on an efficient basis.

Abstract: An efficient process employing cytoplasmic male sterility is provided wherein seeds capable of forming F.sub.1 hybrid Glycine max plants and restorer plants for the same simultaneously are formed in bulk in a single planting area and the seed harvest subsequently is segregated to form two substantially uniform seed assemblages. The parent soybean plants are provided with distinctly colored maternally-derived seedcoats wherein the genes for seedcoat coloration are homozygous dominant in one parent and homozygous recessive in the other parent. The resulting seeds are harvested in bulk and are separated on the basis of the soybean seedcoat coloration. Soybean plants resulting from the planting of the seeds capable of forming F.sub.1 hybrids upon self-pollination form seeds which substantially uniformly exhibit maternally-derived light-colored seedcoats in the F.sub.2 generation thereby enabling the grower to produce a substantially uniform soybean harvest.

Abstract: An improved process is provided for forming seeds capable of yielding F.sub.1 hybrid soybean plants (i.e., hybrid soybean plants of the first filial generation) or maintaining male sterile soybean plants useful in the production of male fertile F.sub.1 hybrid soybean plants. Male sterile soybean plants (i.e., seed parents) and the male fertile soybean plants (i.e., pollen parents) are caused to undergo cross-pollination with the aid of pollen-carrying bees under conditions wherein pollen transport from the male parents to the female parents is significantly increased.

Abstract: An improved procedure for forming F.sub.1 hybrid soybean plants (i.e., hybrid soybean plants of the first filial generation) is provided which is capable of being readily implemented on a commercial scale. Unlike processes proposed in the prior art the requisite cross-pollination needed to produce the F.sub.1 hybrid having hybrid vigor is precisely controlled. The seed parent upon which seeds capable of forming F.sub.1 hybrid plants are produced is fully male sterile (as described herein) thereby eliminating the possibility of self-pollination. It surprisingly has been found that the required male sterility is made possible in the seed parent by combining via a controlled plant breeding program previously widely dispersed factors comprising an atypical Cms cytoplasm and two distinct pairs of recessive genes for fertility restoration r.sub.1 r.sub.1 and r.sub.2 r.sub.2. For instance, the Cms cytoplasm conveniently may be derived from a Mandarin cytoplasmic source (e.g., the Elf variety), the r.sub.1 r.sub.

Abstract: Dilute sulphuric acid is added to, and thoroughly mixed with, lint-bearing cotton seeds to saturate the lint on those lint-bearing cotton seeds. The resulting acid-treated lint-bearing cotton seeds have heated air passed adjacent to and around them while they are thoroughly stirred. The resulting dried acid-treated lint-bearing cotton seeds have the lint separated therefrom by being recurrently forced into engagement with other cotton seeds. The adding and mixing of the acid, the drying of the acid-treated lint-bearing cotton seeds, and the separating of the lint from the dried acid-treated lint-bearing cotton seeds are performed on a continuous basis rather than on a batch basis.