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

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Read, J. C. Articles by Bashaw, E. C. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Read, J. C. Articles by Bashaw, E. C. Agricola Articles by Read, J. C. Articles by Bashaw, E. C.

Cytotaxonomic Relationships and the Role of Apomixis in Speciation in Buffelgrass and Birdwoodgrass¹

A sexual buffelgrass clone (Cenchrus ciliaris L. = Pennisetum ciliate (L.) Link.), heterozygous for method of reproduction, was crossed with apomictic birdwoodgrass (C. setigerus Vahl.) to determine the relationship of these species. The F₁ population contained both sexual and obligate apomictic plants representing a rather complete intergradation between the parents. High fertility of the hybrids and homology of their chromosomes showed that the parents are closely related and undoubtedly belong to the same genus. Some of the hybrids were so different from either parent that populations from them might easily be mistaken for new species. With selfing, average fertility of apomictic hybrids was nearly three times that of sexual hybrids. The diversity of hybrids resulting from brief contact between sexual and apomictic plants and the superior fertility of the obligate apomicts illustrate the dynamic evolutionary potential of apomixis.

Key Words: Cenchrus • Pennisetum • Evolution • Interspecific hybridization

² Graduate Assistant, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Texas A&M University and Research Geneticist, Crops Research Division, Agricultural Research Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture, College Station, Texas 77843.

Received for publication May 24, 1969.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				B. L. Burson, M. A. Hussey, J. M. Actkinson, and G. S. Shafer Effect of Pollination Time on the Frequency of 2n + n Fertilization in Apomictic Buffelgrass Crop Sci., July 1, 2002; 42(4): 1075 - 1080. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. S. Shafer, B. L. Burson, and M. A. Hussey Stigma Receptivity and Seed Set in Protogynous Buffelgrass Crop Sci., March 1, 2000; 40(2): 391 - 397. [Abstract] [Full Text]