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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Logan, Utah » Forage and Range Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #349138
Title: Molecular markers improve breeding efficiency in apomictic Poa pratensis L

Author
item Bushman, Shaun
item JOSHI, ALPANA - Utah State University
item JOHNSON, PAUL - Utah State University

Submitted to: Agronomy Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/5/2018
Publication Date: 2/10/2018
Citation: Bushman, B.S., Joshi, A., Johnson, P.G. 2018. Molecular markers improve breeding efficiency in apomictic Poa pratensis L. Agronomy Journal. 8(2):17. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy8020017.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy8020017

Interpretive Summary: Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) is a highly adapted and important turfgrass species in cool-season climates. It has high and variable polyploidy, small and indistinguishable chromosomes, and a facultative apomictic breeding system. As a result of this challenging breeding system, identifying hybrids for selection, identifying uniform progeny from desirable hybridizations for cultivar development, or differentiating among cultivars with subtle phenotypic differences is inefficient without the assistance of molecular markers. Herein we show data and review previous research showing the uses and limitations of using molecular markers for hybrid detection, apomixis assessment, and cultivar discrimination. In order to differentiate among different apomictic offtype hybrids, both molecular markers and flow cytometry are necesary. For assessing similarity among progeny of hybridizations, as well as discriminating among cultivars, sets of markers are necessary and cryptic molecular variation must be considered. Critical for increased genotyping efficienty are high throughout genotyping platforms.

Technical Abstract: Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) is a highly adapted and important turfgrass species in cool-season climates. It has high and variable polyploidy, small and indistinguishable chromosomes, and a facultative apomictic breeding system. As a result of this challenging breeding system, identifying hybrids for selection, identifying uniform progeny from desirable hybridizations for cultivar development, or differentiating among cultivars with subtle phenotypic differences is inefficient without the assistance of molecular markers. Herein we show data and review previous research showing the uses and limitations of using molecular markers for hybrid detection, apomixis assessment, and cultivar discrimination. In order to differentiate among different apomictic offtype hybrids, both molecular markers and flow cytometry are necessary. For assessing similarity among progeny of hybridizations, as well as discriminating among cultivars, sets of markers are necessary and cryptic molecular variation must be considered. Critical for increased genotyping efficiency are high throughout genotyping platforms.