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Effect of Environment on Apomixis in Bahiagrass¹

The object of this study was to ascertain if variations in the environment could make apomictic tetraploid bahiagrass, Paspalum notatum Flugge, sexual. Nine highly heterozygous tetraploid F₁ clones differing in reproductive method were grown for 3 years at Tifton, Ga. (elevation 109 m, 31° 28' N Lat) and Blairsville, Ga. (elevation 584 m, 34° 51' N Lat). Seed maturing from midsummer until after frost from both locations gave rise to progenies (uniform from apomicts and variable from sexuals), indicating that such environmental variables during this period had no effect on the mode of reproduction in the clones studied. Variations in daylength from 10 to 16 hours failed to make the apomictic clone, T4, sexual. Neither severe drought nor very low fertility caused apomictic bahiagrass clones to become sexual. It appears, therefore, that environments generally experienced by bahiagrass during seed production are not likely to cause a superior apomictic variety to deteriorate because it has become sexual.

Key Words: Paspalum notatum Flugge • Obligate apomict • Tetraploid

² Research geneticist, AR/SEA/USDA, and the Univ. of Georgia, College of Agric. Exp. Stn., Coastal Plain Station, Agron. Dep., Tifton, GA 31793.