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The Journal of Heredity 1985:76(5):382-384
© 1985 The American Genetic Association 76:382-384

other

Cytology and reproductive behavior of pearl millet - napiergrass hexaploids X Pennisetum squamulatum trispecific hybrids

M. Dujardin, and W. W. Hanna

The authors are, respectively, research associate, University of Georgia, College of Agriculture Experiment Stations; and research geneticist, USDA-ARS, University of Georgia, College of Agriculture Experiment Stations, both at Coastal Plain Experiment Station, Agronomy Department, Tifton, GA 31793. Co-operative investigations of USDA-ARS, and the University of Georgia, College of Agriculture Experiment Stations, Coastal Plain Experiment Station, Agronomy Department, Tifton GA 31793. Study supported in part by the U.S. Department of Energy contract no. DE-AS09-76-EV00637, and competitive research grant no. 81-CRCR-1-1002.

Abstract

This research is part of a breeding program designed to investigate the most effective pathways for transferring apomixis from the obligate apomictic species, Pennisetum squamulatum Fresen to cultivated pearl millet, Pennisetum americanum L. Leeke. Three hundred fifty-eight trispecific hybrids were obtained by crossing pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum L. Leeke.) - napiergrass (Pennisetum purpureum Schumach.) hexaploids (2n = 42) with Pennisetum squamulatum (2n = 54). None resulted from the reciprocal cross. All trispecific hybrids were perennial and morphologically intermediate to the three species. The trispecific hybrids possessed 48 somatic chromosomes (7 from P. americanum+14 from P. purpureum+27 from P. squamulatum). Meiotic behavior at metaphase I was irregular with univalent and multivalent configurations. Trivalents and higher multivalents indicated possible homology between the genomes of the three species. Approximately 90 percent of the trispecific hybrids were male and female sterile. Pollen stainability in the semisterile hybrids ranged up to 62 percent. Mature pollen grains were extremely variable in size and often possessed two or three germinal pores. Seed set ranged from 0 to 5 seed per panicle under open pollination. Thirty-two trispe-cific hybrids selected for partial pollen fertility and seed set were histologically analyzed and progeny tested. Seventeen of these trispecific hybrids reproduced by apomixis indicating that genes controlling apomixis were transferred from P. squamulatum and expressed in the hybrids.


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