Morphological and fertility responses in isogenic triploid and hexaploid pearl millet x napiergrass hybrids. [Pennisetum americanum (L. ) Leeke; Pennisetum purpureum Schum]
The effects of polyploidy on 18 morphological and fertility characters were studied in six isogenic Pennisetum americanum (L.) Leeke x P. purpureum Schum, triploid (3x) and hexaploid (6x) clonal pairs. Four of the characters, inflorescence length and width, floret length, and flag leaf length increased in size for all clones with an increase in ploidy as a result of a dosage effect. Pollen diameter and stainability increased due to a more regular meiosis in the hexaploid (AAA'A'AB) compared to the triploid (AA'B) resulting in functional pollen grains. Differential responses to polyploidy among clones were observed for 12 plant characteristics: stomatal length and frequency on both abaxial and adaxial surfaces, growth rate, tiller number per plant, plant height, stem thickness, days to flowering, flag leaf width, spikelet number per 5 cm inflorescence, and florets per spikelet. The different responses by clones are probably due to any one or combination of a dosage effect, gene number controlling a character, genotype of plant, and gene action and interaction both within and between the A and B genomes. This investigation showed the importance of studying a number of different genotypes when determining the effect of an increase in ploidy level on plant characters.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Georgia College of Agriculture Experiment Stations, Tifton
- DOE Contract Number:
- AS09-76EV00637
- OSTI ID:
- 5436919
- Journal Information:
- J. Hered.; (United States), Vol. 75
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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