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Chromosome number and plant morphology in some ecotypes of Poa pratensis L.

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Summary

In a collection of Poa pratensis the variation in chromosome number and the relation between chromosome number and plant characters were studied. The material was collected at different places in the Netherlands. The number of chromosomes in the population varied from 33 to 92. Plants with 56, 63, 70 and 77 chromosomes were in the majority. The occurrence of different chromosome numbers within almost all investigated plants led to the conclusion that aneusomaty is a rule in Poa pratensis. In the progeny of some plants chromosome numbers were found which were considerably higher than those in the mother plants. It was assumed that this rise in chromosome number was caused by fertilization of aposporous egg cells. No relation could be found between chromosome number and plant characters. A hemiploid plant (39 chromosomes) was marked off from its sibs (77 chromosomes) by a stunted growth and pale leaf colour.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Foundation for Agricultural Plant Breeding (SVP), Wageningen, the Netherlands

    G. J. Speckmann & G. E. Van Dijk

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  1. G. J. Speckmann
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  2. G. E. Van Dijk
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Speckmann, G.J., Van Dijk, G.E. Chromosome number and plant morphology in some ecotypes of Poa pratensis L.. Euphytica 21, 171–180 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00036757

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00036757

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