Summary
By means of a new method, plants of Poa pratensis can be classified rapidly and reliably as to whether they are capable or incapable of parthenogenesis. Parthenogenesis was found to be under strong genetic control, dominant over obligatory fertilization. The selected sexual plants lack all genes/alleles responsible for parthenogenesis, while the polyploid apomictic varieties investigated were heterozygous with one or more dominant alleles. Also dosage effects and/or modifying genes are probably involved. Crosses of sexual individuals with various apomictic varieties resulted in sexual as well as highly apomictic F1 hyrids. A scheme of recurrent hybridization for breeding of Kentucky bluegrass is proposed.
Two other experimental ways to overcome apomixis in Poa pratensis were studied in addition. By application of growth regulators temporary sexuality could not be induced. Attempts of in vitro regeneration of plants from endosperm resulted only in callus and root formation.
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Matzk, F. New efforts to overcome apomixis in Poa pratensis L.. Euphytica 55, 65–72 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00022561
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00022561