Satellite Symposium 5: Molecular Breeding
Description
Eragrostis curvula (Schrad.) Nees is a variable grass native to Southern Africa. Its several forms, known as lovegrasses, were introduced to Australia, USA and Argentina as forage perennial grasses. Apomixis is a common trait in the genus Eragrostis, with diplospory being the most frequent type. Sexual reproduction also occurs in Eragrostis, although not frequently. Since most tetraploid Eragrostis lines are apomictic, the generation of a sexual tetraploid strain is a requirement for linkage analysis of the gene(s) governing the apomictic character. Furthermore, isogenic lines of the same ploidy, reproducing alternatively by sexuality or apomixes, represent an ideal system for comparative transcriptome analysis. The aim of this work was the generation and characterization of two novel genotypes of E. curvula: a dihaploid strain obtained in vitro from an apomictic cultivar and a tetraploid plant derived from the dihaploid after chromosome duplication.
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Novel Genotypes of the Subtropical Grass Eragrostis Curvula for the Analysis of Apomixis (Diplospory)
Eragrostis curvula (Schrad.) Nees is a variable grass native to Southern Africa. Its several forms, known as lovegrasses, were introduced to Australia, USA and Argentina as forage perennial grasses. Apomixis is a common trait in the genus Eragrostis, with diplospory being the most frequent type. Sexual reproduction also occurs in Eragrostis, although not frequently. Since most tetraploid Eragrostis lines are apomictic, the generation of a sexual tetraploid strain is a requirement for linkage analysis of the gene(s) governing the apomictic character. Furthermore, isogenic lines of the same ploidy, reproducing alternatively by sexuality or apomixes, represent an ideal system for comparative transcriptome analysis. The aim of this work was the generation and characterization of two novel genotypes of E. curvula: a dihaploid strain obtained in vitro from an apomictic cultivar and a tetraploid plant derived from the dihaploid after chromosome duplication.
