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Inbreeding Effects for Selected Agronomic Characters in Eastern Gamagrass
Author(s) -
Kenna M. P.,
Taliaferro C. M.,
McNew R. W.
Publication year - 1991
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/cropsci1991.0011183x003100040026x
Subject(s) - biology , inbreeding , population , inbreeding depression , ploidy , botany , panmixia , field experiment , zoology , agronomy , horticulture , genetic variation , genetics , genetic structure , demography , sociology , gene
Information on the consequences of inbreeding in naturally crosspollinated plants is useful in determining strategies for genetic manipulation. Research was conducted in 1982 and 1983 to determine the effects of inbreeding in eastern gamagrass [ Tripsacum dactyloides (L.) L.) on plant height (PH), plant weight (PW), 100‐spikelet weight (SW), and fertility measured by the percent of spikelets containing pure live seed (PLS). Plant materials consisted of 20 randomly chosen parents from a diploid ( 2n = 2x = 36) panmictic population and S 1 and S 2 progeny derivatives. Twenty ramets of each parent, 822 S 1 seedlings, and 593 S 2 seedlings were field grown using a completely randomized design. Parental plants had higher mean PH, PW, and SW than S 1 or S 2 progeny populations ( P < 0.01). No consistent differences for these traits were detected between the S 1 and S 2 generations. More than two‐thirds of the parents had significantly higher PH and PW than their S, or S2 progenies. In 1982. SW did not differ between generations; in 1983, however, 80% of the parents had significantly greater SW than their respective S 1 or S 2 generation progenies. Inbreeding had little detrimental effect on PLS. Less than one‐half of the parents had a greater percentage of spikelets containing PLS than their corresponding S 1 and S 2 generation progenies in 1982, and even fewer differences were found in 1983. Plants with reduced vigor but normal color, yellow and albino plants, and plants with altered floral morphology were found in selfed progeny populations. Inbreeding eastern gamagrass should have value in exposing recessive alleles existing at low frequencies and in the development of inbred lines.