HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Free Full Text (PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Related articles in Crop Science Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (5) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Fjellheim, S. Articles by Rognli, O.-A. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Fjellheim, S. Articles by Rognli, O.-A. Agricola Articles by Fjellheim, S. Articles by Rognli, O.-A. Related Collections Germplasm Enhancement Other Forage Crops Plant Genetic Resources Crop Genetics

GENOMICS, MOLECULAR GENETICS & BIOTECHNOLOGY

Genetic Diversity within and among Nordic Meadow Fescue (Festuca pratensis Huds.) Cultivars Determined on the Basis of AFLP Markers

^a Dep. of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian Univ. of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway
^b Dep. of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Norwegian Univ. of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway

^* Corresponding author (odd-arne.rognli{at}umb.no)

Twelve Nordic cultivars and one Icelandic natural population of meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis Huds.) were assessed by AFLP (amplified fragment length polymorphism) marker technology to determine levels of genetic diversity within and genetic relationships between populations. Three cultivars were analyzed from each of the Nordic countries (Norway, Finland, Sweden, and Denmark), including germplasm of long, medium, and short antiquity. A total of 253 plants were analyzed by 89 AFLP markers. A substantial degree of genetic heterogeneity was uncovered, and all individuals were genetically distinct from one another. AMOVA revealed that most of the variation is distributed within rather than between cultivars. The genetic diversity within newly released cultivars was as large as within old cultivars, indicating that breeding has not eroded genetic diversity over time. PCO- and UPGMA-analyses revealed no clear structure on the basis of country of origin of the cultivars. This can probably be explained by the fact that an extensive exchange of breeding material between the Nordic countries has occurred since the genetic improvement of meadow fescue started at the beginning of the 20th century. These exchanges of breeding materials have counteracted genetic erosion and genetic differentiation between countries. The applicability of AFLP markers in cultivar identification in meadow fescue is discussed.

Related articles in Crop Science:

THIS ISSUE IN CROP SCIENCE

Crop Science 2005 45: x. [Full Text]