Crop Science Journal of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Education
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Published in Crop Sci 26:449-453 (1986)
© 1986 Crop Science Society of America
677 S. Segoe Rd., Madison, WI 53711 USA
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Cytogenetics of Pennisetum schweinfurthii Pilger and its Hybrids with Pearl Millet1

W. W. Hanna and M. Dujardin2

A better understanding of the cytogenetics of wild species aids in the utilization of exotic germplasm to improve cultivated species. The objectives of this research were to describe the cytogenetics and fertility of Pennisetum schweinfurthii Pilger and the interspecific hybrids between pearl millet [Pennisetum americanum (L.) Leeke] and P. schweinfurthii. Pennisetum schweinfurthii is a sexual diploid (2n = 14 chromosomes) annual species. Pennisetum schweinfurthii is the only other Pennisetum Rich. species, other than pearl millet, reported to have 2n = 14 chromosomes and an annual growth habit. Its chromosomes are similar in size but nonhomologous to those of pearl millet. Chromosomes paired as seven bivalents at meiosis. Selfand open-pollinated seed set ranged from 40 to 56% and 40 to 91%, respectively, indicating the presence of a partial self-incompatibility mechanism in this species. Interspecific hybrids between P. schweinfurthii and pearl millet were male sterile, partially female sterile, and morphologically intermediate to both species. Chromosomes of the interspecific hybrids remained mainly as 14 univalents, but five hybrids averaged 0.48 to 1.97 bivalents per microsporocyte.

Key Words: Pennisetum americanum (L.) Leeke • Interspecific • Diploid • Annual • Chromosomes • Germplasm

1 Cooperative investigations of USDA-ARS, and the Univ. of Georgia, College of Agric. Exp. Stn., Coastal Plain Exp. Stn., Agronomy Dep., Tifton, GA 31793. Study supported in part by the U.S. Dep. of Energy Contract no. DE-AS09-76-EV00637 and Competitive Research Grant no. 81-CRCR-1-1002.

2 Research geneticist, USDA-ARS; and research associate, Univ. of Georgia, College of Agric. Exp. Stn., Coastal Plain Exp. Stn., Agronomy Dep., Tifton, GA 31793.

Received for publication July 30, 1985.




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Environmental Quality		 The Plant Genome
Copyright © 1986 by the Crop Science Society of America.