Publication Date

1993

Description

Genetic enhancement programmes In apomictic species require either the identification of obligate sexual genotypes or facultative apomicts with high levels of sexuality.- Fertilisation of unreduced eggs (2n+n hybridisation) which occurs frequently within agamic complexes has received little attention as a method for breeding apomictic species. This paper describes attempts to obtain 2n+n hybrids within the Cenchrus-Penniseltim agamic complex. Both inter- and intraspecific n+n and 2n+n hybrids have been obtained using facultative accessions of C. ciliaris or P. flaccld11m as female parents. Interspecific 2n+n hybrids, which have been recovered at frequencies approaching 3%, are typically more fertile than interspeclfic n+n hybrids. Evaluation of 2n+n hybrids has indicated that this may be a useful technique for breeding apomictic species where sexual genotypes are not available to make conventional crosses,

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Fertilization of Unreduced Female Gametes: A Technique for Genetic Enhancement within the Cenchrus-Pennisteum agamic Complex

Genetic enhancement programmes In apomictic species require either the identification of obligate sexual genotypes or facultative apomicts with high levels of sexuality.- Fertilisation of unreduced eggs (2n+n hybridisation) which occurs frequently within agamic complexes has received little attention as a method for breeding apomictic species. This paper describes attempts to obtain 2n+n hybrids within the Cenchrus-Penniseltim agamic complex. Both inter- and intraspecific n+n and 2n+n hybrids have been obtained using facultative accessions of C. ciliaris or P. flaccld11m as female parents. Interspecific 2n+n hybrids, which have been recovered at frequencies approaching 3%, are typically more fertile than interspeclfic n+n hybrids. Evaluation of 2n+n hybrids has indicated that this may be a useful technique for breeding apomictic species where sexual genotypes are not available to make conventional crosses,