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DNA content and ploidy estimation of Festuca ovina accessions by flow cytometry
Author(s) -
Qiu Yinjie,
Hamernick Sierra,
Ortiz Joan Barreto,
Watkins Eric
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.1002/csc2.20229
Subject(s) - biology , germplasm , ploidy , outcrossing , polyploid , botany , agronomy , horticulture , genetics , pollen , gene
Festuca ovina L. is a fine fescue that is used as a low‐input turfgrass. The ploidy levels of F . ovina accessions held by the USDA National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) are unknown, limiting the use of the germplasm in breeding programs. The objective of this study was to determine DNA content and estimate ploidy of these accessions. Among 127 accessions, we identified a wide range of ploidy levels from diploid to octoploid. We also found the accessions with higher ploidy levels usually had larger seed size. These results will be informative to plant breeders and researchers using germplasm from the F. ovina collection and point to challenges in maintaining polyploid, outcrossing germplasm seed stocks in common nurseries.