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Epichloë endophyte and plant genotype determine seed production through self-pollination in tall fescue

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Abstract

Fitness in tall fescue could be determined as the relative seed production by overcoming self-incompatibility barriers. This study was an attempt to investigate the effects of plant genotype and symbiotic fungal endophyte on seed production and associated traits in tall fescue. Fifteen clones of tall fescue free from endophyte and two clones with both endophyte-infected (E+) and non-infected (E−) counterparts were evaluated under two pollination systems of natural open-pollination and obligate self-pollination. Although seed yield was depressed by self-pollination in all E− genotypes, some genotypes exhibited reasonable selfing ratio. However, endophyte infection was much more effective to increase selfing ratio and seed yield through self-pollination particularly in the genotype 75B. Endophyte infection almost removed self-incompatibilty in the host plants and on average resulted in 3.0 times more number of seeds per self-pollinated seedheads than the non-counterpart E− tall fescue genotypes. Although it may need more elaborated studies, incorporating Epichloë fungal endophyte in plant genotypes not only may make the inbreeding in tall fescue possible but also may improve forage yield and seed production, simultaneously.

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Acknowledgements

Funding was provided by Isfahan University of Technology.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, 84156-83111, Islamic Republic of Iran

    M. Zarean, Mohammad R. Sabzalian, A. Mirlohi, M. Davoudi & E. Ataii

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  1. M. Zarean
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  2. Mohammad R. Sabzalian
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  3. A. Mirlohi
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  4. M. Davoudi
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  5. E. Ataii
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Correspondence to Mohammad R. Sabzalian.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Plant Breeding: the Art of Bringing Science to Life. Highlights of the 20th EUCARPIA General Congress, Zurich, Switzerland, 29 August–1 September 2016

Edited by Roland Kölliker, Richard G. F. Visser, Achim Walter & Beat Boller

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Zarean, M., Sabzalian, M.R., Mirlohi, A. et al. Epichloë endophyte and plant genotype determine seed production through self-pollination in tall fescue. Euphytica 213, 250 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10681-017-2037-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10681-017-2037-7

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