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Table 1 Mendel’s hybridization experiments in Mirabilis

From: Mendel’s controlled pollination experiments in Mirabilis jalapa confirmed his discovery of the gamete theory of inheritance in Pisum

Pollination type

Combination/ Year

1868a

1869

1870

Bulked pollination

M. jalapa × M. longiflora

C

F1

F2

M.jalapab

crimson × yellow

C

F1

F2

crimson × white

C

F1

F2

Controlled pollination

Single pollen grainc

M. jalapa

crimson × yellow

C

F1/C

F2/F1/C

crimson × white

C

F1/C

F2/F1/C

Two pollen grains

M. jalapa

crimson × (yellow + white)

  

C

  1. a as the author of Mendel’s biography [1], Orel cited Cetl’s paper in Folia biologia [25] where the start time of Mendel’s experiment in Mirabilis was listed as 1867; however, there was no direct evidence for this date; b Mendel might have executed the method of bulked pollination as listed, but the probability of his conduction of their reciprocal crosses can not be excluded; c the two combinations of the single pollen grain experiments were repeatedly conducted over 3 years, showing Mendel’s rigorousness and the difficulties associated with achieving successful operation