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Genetic Variation in Cynodon transvaalensis Burtt‐Davy
Author(s) -
Kenworthy Kevin E.,
Taliaferro Charles M.,
Carver Brett F.,
Martin Dennis L.,
Anderson Jeffrey A.,
Bell Gregory E.
Publication year - 2006
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/cropsci2006.02.0075
Subject(s) - biology , raceme , heritability , hybrid , inflorescence , cultivar , genetic variation , population , botany , agronomy , horticulture , genetics , gene , demography , sociology
Cynodon transvaalensis Burtt‐Davy (African bermudagrass) is used as a turfgrass and in interspecific hybridization to produce turfgrass cultivars. Information is lacking on the magnitude of intra‐specific genetic variation for traits related to turfgrass performance. A Design II mating population comprised of 320 F 1 plants (4 parental sets, 16 crosses set −1 , 5 F 1 hybrids cross −1 ) was used to estimate genetic parameters for 21 traits. The F 1 plants were evaluated in replicated field (13 traits) and greenhouse (8 traits) experiments in Stillwater, OK during 2002–2003. Genetic variation was detected for 17 of the 21 traits as indicated by significant ( P < 0.05) differences among families within sets. Both additive and dominance genetic effects were detected for most of the 17 traits, but dominance effects usually prevailed over additive effects. Broad sense heritability estimates varied from 0.42 to 0.96. Population improvement via recurrent selection techniques would be possible but difficult as indicated by low levels of additive genetic variation for genetic color, raceme number, seed number, and percent seed set. Dominance effects might be exploited to select clonally propagated F 1 hybrid cultivars with enhanced sensor‐rated color, density, turf quality, spring greenup, fall dormancy, percent living cover, raceme number, raceme length, number of florets per inflorescence, plant height, stolon length, number of internodes, internode length, and leaf length.