Apomixis in diploid × triploid Tripsacum dactyloides hybrids

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Abstract
Apomixis can hinder plant improvement if sexual or apomictic germ plasm of the appropriate ploidy level, required for effective manipulation of apomixis, is not available. To develop needed germ plasm and increase knowledge of apomixis in Tripsacum dactyloides, diploid (2n = 2x = 36) sexual plants were crossed with a highly apomictic triploid (2n = 3x = 54) accession in an attempt to transfer apomixis from a polyploid to the diploid level. The fertility of most hybrids was very low, 69% had 10% or less seed set. A selected subset of 48 hybrids, including most of the more fertile plants, was studied cytologically. The chromosome number of these hybrids ranged from 2n = 36 to 2n = 54. All but 3 of 46 of the 48 hybrids showed indications of apomictic development. Those with near-diploid chromosome numbers were primarily sexual. Highly apomictic hybrids, based on percent diplosporous ovules, had 43 or more chromosomes. Fertility of these hybrids was not related to chromosome number. Fertility of sexual to moderately apomictic plants was reduced as chromosome number increased. Apomixis in T. dactyloides is facultative. Backcrosses are needed to develop germ plasm with a high level of apomixis and near-diploid chromosome numbers.Key words: eastern gama-grass, chromosome number, fertility, mode of reproduction, germ plasm.

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