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Cytological and Morphological Investigations on the Grass Hemarthria altissima (Poir) Stapf et C.E. Hubb 1
Author(s) -
Wilms H. J.,
Carmichael J. W.,
Schank S. C.
Publication year - 1970
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 - 10.2135/cropsci1970.0011183x001000030030x
Subject(s) - biology , pollen , ploidy , germination , pollination , botany , human fertilization , seedling , apomixis , poaceae , pollen tube , embryo , incubation , horticulture , agronomy , gene , biochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology
Two introductions of Hemarthria altissima , limpograss, from South Africa were diploid (2n = 18), one was tetraploid (2n = 36), and one was hexaploid (2n = 54). Pollen and embryo sac development were studied. Each of the accessions produced a high percentage of viable pollen. Addition of gibberellic acid to the medium gave a significant increase in in vitro pollen germination. The four strains were interpollinated and the ovaries were killed after 1, 2, and 4 hours incubation. Double fertilization occurred in all four accessions. No apomictic development was detected. The polyploids set seed after self pollination under terylene bags, but the diploids did not. One diploid and both polyploids yielded some seed under open pollination. These results indicate that Hemarthria altissima can be included in a conventional plant breeding program.