Studies of the Reproductive Method and the Inheritance of a Leaf Chlorotic Trait in Selected Cynodon Accessions

Abstract

Thirty full-sib progeny plants of Cynodon arcuatus were evaluated using DAF. Lack of DAF polymorphisms among progeny plants, with eight DAF and MHP-DAF primers, suggests apomixis, but doesnot rule out the possibility of strong inbreeding. Histological studies indicating only single embryo-sacs suggested against aposporous, but not diplosporous apomictic reproduction. The inheritance of a transverse chlorotic trait (zebra) on bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers] leaves was studied. F2 progeny ( "Zebra") of the F1 plant with the trait was clonally maintained. Selfed progeny of the Zebra and F1 and F2 progenies of crosses between Zebra and a normal bermudagrass (accession 037) were used. Accurate assessment of plants segregating into zebra and normal phenotypes was not possible because of latent expression of chlorotic bands in many plants. The data are not definitive of inheritance of the zebra trait, but do provide evidence against maternal inheritance and implicate nuclear genes in its control.