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Androgenesis as a means of dissecting complex genetic and physiological controls: selecting useful gene combinations for breeding freezing tolerant grasses

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Abstract

The advantages of androgenesis from Lolium × Festuca hybrids as a means towards enhanced gene expression and capture of rare genetic variation are reviewed. New evidence is presented for the technique’s use in combination with introgression-mapping for targeting Festuca-derived genes for enhanced freezing-tolerance. As a starting point, a dihaploid genotype derived by androgenesis from a Lolium multiflorum × Festuca pratensis amphiploid (2n = 4x = 28) hybrid cultivar is used as female parent in a backcross breeding programme with L. multiflorum (2n = 2x = 14). A derivative of the backcross␣breeding programme was a genotype of L.␣multiflorum (2n = 2x = 14) incorporating a F.␣pratensis introgression on chromosome 4 that was more freezing-tolerant than Lolium.

New evidence of the importance in Lolium and Festuca species of the adaptive capabilities of Photosystem II (PSII) in relation to subsequent freezing-tolerance, is presented. Non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) mechanisms for expulsion of excess light energy during cold acclimation are found in F. pratensis but not in L. multiflorum. Screens of a backcross population derived from an initial dihaploid genotype (n + n = 14) produced by androgenesis from a L. multiflorum × F.␣pratensis amphiploid, indicate a direct relationship between cold acclimation induced increases in NPQ and freezing-tolerance. Preliminary evidence of a role for genes found on chromosome 4 of F. pratensis for increased NPQ expression, is presented.

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Abbreviations

F 0, F 0′:

Fluorescence of dark and light adapted leaves, respectively when all PSII reaction centres are open

F v :

Variable fluorescence (F v = F m − F 0)

F m , F m′:

Fluorescence when all PSII reaction centres are closed in dark and light-exposed leaves, respectively

F s :

Steady state fluorescence in light exposed leaves

F v/F m :

Maximum quantum yield of Photosystem II (PSII)

PPFD:

Photosynthetic photon flux density

NPQ:

Non-photochemical quenching of chlorophyll a fluorescence

q p :

Photochemical quenching of chlorophyll a fluorescence

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Plant Genetics and Breeding Department, Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research (IGER), Plas Gogerddan, SY23 3EB, Aberystwyth, Wales, UK

    M. W. Humphreys

  2. Department of Plant Physiology, Faculty of Agriculture and Economics, Agricultural University of Kraków, Podluzna 3, 30-239, Kraków, Poland

    D. Gasior & M. Rapacz

  3. Institute of Plant Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Strzeszyńska 34, 60-479, Poznań, Poland

    A. Lesniewska-Bocianowska & Z. Zwierzykowski

Authors
  1. M. W. Humphreys
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  2. D. Gasior
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  3. A. Lesniewska-Bocianowska
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  4. Z. Zwierzykowski
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  5. M. Rapacz
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Correspondence to M. W. Humphreys.

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Humphreys, M.W., Gasior, D., Lesniewska-Bocianowska, A. et al. Androgenesis as a means of dissecting complex genetic and physiological controls: selecting useful gene combinations for breeding freezing tolerant grasses. Euphytica 158, 337–345 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10681-006-9240-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10681-006-9240-2

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