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ARS Home » Plains Area » College Station, Texas » Southern Plains Agricultural Research Center » Crop Germplasm Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #103993
Title: FITNESS OF PROGENY IN APOMICTIC PENNISETUM CILIARE (L.) LINK

Author
item HUSSEY, M - TEXAS A & M UNIVERSITY
item Burson, Byron
item WANG, Y - NATIONAL TAIWAN UNIV
item SHAFER, G - YODER BROS, INC

Submitted to: International Botanical Congress
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/16/1999
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: In apomictic species, progeny may be formed by apomictic reproduction (2n+0), the hybridization of rare sexual genotypes (n+n), or through the fertilization of unreduced gametes (2n+n). In this paper we will review the vegetative and reproductive fitness of progeny resulting from controlled intra- and interspecific hybridization in buffelgrass, Pennisetum ciliare (L.) Link [Cenchrus ciliaris L.]. Buffelgrass is an aposporous, polyploid, perennial C4 grass that has been widely planted for pasture and conservation throughout the semi arid tropics. Because apomictic reproduction is simply inherited in buffelgrass, forage improvement efforts have focused on the hybridization of rare sexual genotypes with apomictic genotypes, and the subsequent selection, evaluation, and release of apomictic hybrids. This program has allowed us to compare the fertility, pollen quality, height, biomass, etc.) of several lhundred 2n+0, n+n and 2n+n progeny. On average apomictic (2n+0, 2n+n, and n+n) progeny exhibit greater mean vegetative and reproductive fitness than sexual progeny (n+n), although occasional sexual progeny were identified that exhibited higher levels of fertility and vegetative vigor than their apomictic counterparts.