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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 #151325
Title: MOLECULAR TOOLS FOR MARKER-ASSISTED-BREEDING IN BUFFELGRASS

Author
item JESSUP, RUSSELL - DEPT. SOIL & CROP SCIENCE
item BURSON, BYRON
item BUROW, GLORIA - PLANT GENOME MAPPING LAB
item CHANG, CHARLENE - PLANT GENOME MAPPING LAB
item LI, ZHONGSEN - DUPONT AG PRODUCTS
item PATERSON, ANDREW - PLANT GENOME MAPPING LAB
item HUSSEY, MARK - DEPT. SOIL & CROP SCIENCE

Submitted to: International Symposium of Molecular Breeding of Forage Turf
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/23/2003
Publication Date: 5/18/2003
Citation: Jessup, R., Burson, B.L., Burow, G., Chang, C., Li, Z., Paterson, A., Hussey, M. 2003. Molecular tools for marker-assisted-breeding in buffelgrass [abstract]. 3rd International Symposium of Molecular Breeding of Forage and Turf. p. 140.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Buffelgrass (Pennisetum ciliare (L.) Link syn. Cenchrus ciliaris L.) is an apomictic, warm-season, perennial forage grass grown throughout the arid and semi-arid tropics. It is an aposporous apomict, in which most genotypes reproduce by either obligate or facultative (sexual and apomictic) apomixis. However, rare sexual genotypes exist. The long-term goal of this project is to elucidate the molecular basis of apospory and other important traits in buffelgrass. To date, a genome map containing more than 700 markers has been developed using a mapping population of 86 buffelgrass hybrids. Several molecular markers were identified that map close to the locus exerting major control over apospory (PApo1) when classified as a Mendelian trait. A PCR-based method to score apospory as a QTL has been developed to screen new hybrids and eliminate progeny from unwanted outcrosses and self-fertilizations. Genomic regions under gametic selection due to allelic interactions were identified. Our current research includes the development of PCR-based markers for the regions involving allelic interactions in order to allow selection for favored allele combinations in future crosses. In addition, our mapping population has been increased to more than 200 hybrids and QTL analyses of several agronomic traits (yield, plant height, flowering time, and rhizome production) are in progress. The utility of the molecular tools developed towards marker-assisted-breeding in buffelgrass will be discussed.