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4xTrifolium ambiguum and 2xT. occidentale hybridise despite wide geographic separation and polyploidisation: implications for clover breeding

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Abstract

Key message

The widely divergent species 4xTrifolium ambiguum and 2xT.occidentale are inter-fertile long after speciation (including polyploidisation) has occurred. Tri-species hybrids (T. repens × T. ambiguum × T. occidentale) have the potential to achieve introgression of stress resistant traits from both wild species into white clover.

Abstract

Trifolium ambiguum and T. occidentale are geographically, adaptionally and phenotypically contrasting species in the white clover section (Trifoliastrum) of the genus. T. ambiguum occurs as a high-altitude polyploid series (2x, 4x, 6x) in W Asia and NE Europe. T. occidentale is a diploid coastal species, occurring at sea level in W Europe. This study investigated hybridisation between 4xT. ambiguum and 2xT. occidentale and considered the significance of the hybrids for introgression breeding of white clover. Partially fertile F1 hybrids between 4xT. ambiguum and 2x and 4xT. occidentale were generated by embryo rescue. Hybrid plant morphology and fertility varied widely and hybrids generally expressed traits from both species. Advanced generation (F2–F5) 4x hybrids were highly fertile and constitute a new synthetic allotetraploid species. FISH analyses of 4x hybrids showed multivalent chromosome configurations with homoeologous associations between T. ambiguum and T. occidentale chromosomes. Crosses of the hybrids with T. repens produced fertile tri-species progeny. These very divergent species remain inter-fertile long after speciation (including polyploidisation) has occurred. Tri-species hybrids have the potential to achieve introgression of stress resistance traits from both wild species into white clover.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Michelle Williamson and Helen van den Ende for technical assistance and Tony Connor for helpful comments on the draft manuscript. IU gratefully acknowledges financial assistance from the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan and overseas study leave from the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council. Funding was provided by AgResearch Grants 9957/2, 9957/3 and the New Zealand Foundation for Research, Science and Technology Contract C10X0711.

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Author notes

  1. N. W. Ellison

    Present address: , Palmerston North, New Zealand

Authors and Affiliations

  1. AgResearch Grasslands Research Centre, Private Bag 11008, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand

    W. M. Williams, I. M. Verry, H. A. Ansari, S. W. Hussain & N. W. Ellison

  2. College of Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand

    W. M. Williams & I. Ullah

  3. Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, Islamabad, Pakistan

    I. Ullah

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  1. W. M. Williams
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  2. I. M. Verry
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  5. I. Ullah
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Correspondence to W. M. Williams.

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Communicated by Albrecht E. Melchinger.

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Williams, W.M., Verry, I.M., Ansari, H.A. et al. 4xTrifolium ambiguum and 2xT. occidentale hybridise despite wide geographic separation and polyploidisation: implications for clover breeding. Theor Appl Genet 132, 2899–2912 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-019-03395-0

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