Abstract
Traditionally, tetraploid Paspalum notatum was considered an obligate or a facultative apomict according to cytoembryological analyses. The degree of facultativeness was usually determined by the relative amount of mature ovules bearing aposporous or meiotic (sexual) embryo sacs, or both together. We established, through progeny tests conducted with the aid of AFLP markers, the degree of residual sexuality expressed in four selected biotypes. The results showed it to be substantially and significantly lower than predicted by previous embryological analyses for the same biotypes. Moreover, the lowest expression of residual sexuality was coincident with maximum flowering period. Seed development in facultative apomictic P. notatum shows a definite bias against meiotic embryo sacs.
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Abbreviations
- AFLP:
-
amplified fragment length polymorphism
- EF:
-
end of flowering season
- FCSS:
-
flow cytometric seed screen
- m:
-
maternal
- MF:
-
stage of maximum flowering
- p:
-
paternal
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Acknowledgements
We thank Juan César Vilardi and Andrea Panseri for their technical assistance and Florencia Galdeano who managed the flow cytometer. We also thank Henry A. Fribourg and Michael Hayward for their kindly assistance concerning idiomatic English. This work was supported by Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Técnica (grants PICT 13578 and PAV 137/3), Secretaría General de Ciencia y Técnica, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET). Quarin and Espinoza belong to the research staff of CONICET. Rebozzio and Sartor received fellowships from CONICET.
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Rebozzio, R.N., Sartor, M.E., Quarin, C.L. et al. Residual sexuality and its seasonal variation in natural apomictic Paspalum notatum accessions. Biol Plant 55, 391–395 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10535-011-0062-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10535-011-0062-2