Author
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Steiner, Jeffrey |
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KARLSEN, ASBJORN - NORDLAND RES INST NORWAY |
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Submitted to: Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 11/24/2005 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Colonial bentgrass is a forage grass naturally found in northern latitude regions. We found that colonial bentgrass germplasm collected in Scandinavia differed greatly from materials found in the National Plant Germplasm System that had been collected in more southern regions. Most commercial varieties of colonial bentgrass have very similar parents, so the materials we examined may provide new sources of genetic variation that can be used to develop unique varieties. Technical Abstract: Our research assessed the diversity of 18 Scandinavian Agrostis capillaris L. accessions from northern latitude boreal ecoregions and compared these with three lower latitude ecoregion accessions. Evaluations were made using RAPD band variation and photosystem II average fluorescence reappearance ratios (FRR). Geographic information system databases were used to describe accession collecting site ecogeography. The accessions were classified into four RAPD genetic diversity pools (pools). Two of three Scandinavian pools overlapped in the humid temperate boreal ecoregion, and a third pool coincided with the Subarctic Continental Boreal ecoregion. The fourth accession pool came from the three lower latitude, ecologically diverse, non-boreal environments. The northern latitude Scandinavian accessions had greater FRR than the southern accessions, perhaps indicating an adaptive mechanism for these limited growth environments. The unique genetics, physiology, and ecogeographic origins of the Scandinavian accessions merit their further. |
