Presenter Information

K Nakajima, Research Council, Japan

Publication Date

1985

Location

Kyoto Japan

Description

Guineagrass (Panicum maximum J acq.) is the most promising warm-season grass in the southwest areas of Japan, but its cultivation is limited because of its slow growth at initial growth stage and low seed-yield. As the mode of reproduction o( this grass is apomixis, its genetic improvement is restricted to selection or induced mutation. Sexual plants were screened in two trials to develop the hybridization breeding. In the second survey, 15 completely sexual accessions were isolated by embryo sac analysis from new African collections. They were added to 4 completely sexual plants, already obtained in the first survey, as valuable genetic materials for sexual plants of crossing breeding. Superior hybrid strain fixed by apomixis was selected from the progeny of the sexual plant in the 1st survey. this strain, B7-l, was improved in forage yield, initial growth and seed yield. Breeding effect was clearly recognized in comparison with the original sexual strain (GR297).

Results of the present study confirmed the prospect of hybridization breeding of guineagrass in Japan.

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Isolation of Sexual Plants in Guineagrass and the Potential of its Hybridization Breeding in Japan

Kyoto Japan

Guineagrass (Panicum maximum J acq.) is the most promising warm-season grass in the southwest areas of Japan, but its cultivation is limited because of its slow growth at initial growth stage and low seed-yield. As the mode of reproduction o( this grass is apomixis, its genetic improvement is restricted to selection or induced mutation. Sexual plants were screened in two trials to develop the hybridization breeding. In the second survey, 15 completely sexual accessions were isolated by embryo sac analysis from new African collections. They were added to 4 completely sexual plants, already obtained in the first survey, as valuable genetic materials for sexual plants of crossing breeding. Superior hybrid strain fixed by apomixis was selected from the progeny of the sexual plant in the 1st survey. this strain, B7-l, was improved in forage yield, initial growth and seed yield. Breeding effect was clearly recognized in comparison with the original sexual strain (GR297).

Results of the present study confirmed the prospect of hybridization breeding of guineagrass in Japan.