ARS | Publication request: IMPROVING EFFECTIVE POPULATION SIZE DURING GRASS SEED REGENERATION

Submitted to: Crop Science Society Of America
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: January 1, 2001
Publication Date: January 1, 2001
Citation: Johnson, R.C., Bradley, V.L., Evans, M.A. Improving efffective population size during grass seed regeneration. Crop Science Society of America. 2001. Abstract p. 144248.

Technical Abstract: Effective population size (EFS) is the key parameter for predicting genetic drift associated with germplasm regeneration. The objectives of this study were to estimate EPS associated with variation in seed production in three model wind pollinated,perennial grass species (Lolium perenne, Festuca pratensis, and Pseudoroegneria spicata), and to recommend cost effective sampling methodology to maximize EPS during seed regeneration. For whole plant samples, average EPS for each species differed, but overall, EPS was almost half of the census population size. However, average EPS based on two inflorescences per plant was significantly higher than that of whole plant samples. The results whoed the high potential for genetic drift associated with reduced EPS in small regeneration populations. increased plant populations and harvesting a constant number of inflorescences per plant are recommended as cost-effectivemethods to minimize genetic drift during regeneration of outcrossing grass germplasm.