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Title: GENERATION OF ANDROGENIC HAPLOIDS FROM INTERSPECIFIC HYBRIDIZATION OF POA ARACHNIFERA X POA SECUNDA

Author
item Kindiger, Bryan

Submitted to: Grassland Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/23/2003
Publication Date: 1/1/2004
Citation: Kindiger, B.K. 2004. Generation of androgenic haploids from interspecific hybridization of Poa arachnifera x Poa secunda. Grassland Science. Volume(49):577-580.

Interpretive Summary: Results of wide-hybridizations between Texas bluegrass (Poa arachnifera) and different representatives of the genus Poa are unknown. In this study, hybrids between Texas bluegrass and Sandberg bluegrass (P. secunda) generated a low frequency of paternal haploid plants which possessed a genetic contribution solely from the Sandberg bluegrass parent. Results of the study indicate that Texas bluegrass x Sandberg bluegrass hybrids can result in Sandberg bluegrass haploids. In addition, the study revealed that the rhizomatous root development characteristic of Texas bluegrass is dominant to the fibrous root development found in Sandberg bluegrass. This information will be of value to turf and forage breeders interested in utilizing Texas bluegrass as a parent in hybrids with other Poa species.

Technical Abstract: The generation of haploids in most grass species is relatively infrequent, but has continually been considered a potential tool for the development of fixed inbred lines, a method for cytoplasmic transfer, or polyploid genome manipulations. This study was originally undertaken to identify the frequency of successful hybridization following crosses between Poa arachnifera x P. secunda. However, during the research, four androgenic haploids representing the polyploid P. secunda parent were obtained with varying chromosome numbers. Each of the haploids exhibited the fibrous root system characteristic of the P. secunda parent. The generation of androgenic haploids offers an opportunity to observe P. secunda germplasm in a P. arachnifera cytoplasm as well as an opportunity to utilize such materials as a breeding resource for a P. arachnifera or P. secunda breeding program.