Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Future Directions In The Molecular Breeding Of Forage And Turf, G. C. Spangenberg, J. W. Forster, D. Edwards, U. John, A. Mouradov, M. Emmerling, J. Batley, S. Felitti, N. O. I. Cogan, K. F. Smith, M. P. Dobrowolski

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Key points

1. Molecular breeding of forage and turf plants and their endosymbionts has entered the post-genomic era with a large amount of structural genomics information and genomic resources available for key forage and turf species and relevant model systems.
2. A primary future challenge is the conversion of this information into useful functional knowledge for the development of molecular breeding technologies and products that address a range of high impact outcome scenarios in forage and turf.
3. High-throughput approaches for spatial and temporal analysis, from genome to phenome, and the respective data integration in a systems biology context will be critical for …

Crown Rust Resistance In Transgenic Italian Ryegrass (L. Multiflorum) Expressing A Rice Chitinase Gene And Crosses With Cytoplasmic Male Sterile Hybrid Ryegrass, W. Takahashi, M. Fujimori, Y. Miura, T. Komatsu, S. Sugita, A. Arakawa, Y. Nishizawa, H. Sato, Y. Mano, T. Hibi, T. Takamizo

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) is one of the most important forage grasses in the temperate region. In ryegrasses, crown rust (Puccinia coronata) is the most serious foliar fungal disease and brings about a reduction of herbage yield and loss of palatability to grass-eating domestic animals. In this study, we tried to increase tolerance to the pathogen by introducing a rice chitinase gene using particle bombardment.

Genetic And Molecular Characterization Of Temperate And Tropical Forage Maize Inbred Lines, B. Alarcón-Zúñiga, E. Valadez-Moctezuma, T. Cervantes-Martinez, T. Cervantes-Santana, M. Mendoza‐Rodriguez

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Livestock feeding in the Central highland of Mexico is based on harvest, grazing and annual forage conservation, with forage maize being the most important silage crop (Alarcón, 1995). Even though forage maize is extensively bred in Europe, USA and Asia since the 1900’s, this started in Mexico only in the 1960’s, and little is known about genetic diversity in both agronomic and nutritive value traits. Our breeding program goals are to analyze combining ability of biomass and quality predictors and to study the genetic relationship of inbred lines between lowland tropical and temperate races from Mesa Central, by genetic and …

The Use Of Molecular Markers In Genetic Variability Analysis Of A Collection Of Dactylis Glomerata L., R. Costa, G. Pereira, C. Vicente, M. M. Tavares De Sousa

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Dactylis glomerata L. is one of the three most used perennial grasses in Europe (jointly with Lolium perenne and Festuca arundinacea). The main qualities of Dactylis glomerata are high productivity in pure cultures, high level of proteins and tolerance to drought, cold and shade (Mousset & Chosson, 1986). In the last ten years, techniques that allow direct discrimination at the DNA level have encouraged the study of the genetic variability within cultivated populations as well as identification of the diversity available in germplasm banks. DNA polymorphisms have been shown to be efficient in the identification of genetic variability in …

Molecular Characterization And Tissue Culture Regeneration Ability Of The Usa Arachis Pintoi (Krap. And Greg.) Germplasm Collection, M. A. Carvalho, K. H. Quesenberry, M. Gallo-Meagher

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Arachis pintoi Krap. and Greg. is a herbaceous, perennial legume, exclusively native to Brazil. It is considered a multiple use legume, being grown for forage; ground cover in fruits orchards, forest, and low tillage systems; erosion control; and ornamental purposes. Although several cultivars have been released in different countries, little is known about the genetic diversity of the germplasm stored in world genebanks. Our objective was to characterize and evaluate the genetic diversity of the germplasm of 35 accessions of Arachis pintoi at molecular level using RAPD markers. Concurrently, two tissue culture protocols were evaluated for their organogenesis ability. Further, …

Genetic And Phenotypic Diversity Of Swiss Red Clover Landraces, D. Herrmann, B. Boller, F. Widmer, R. Kölliker

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Mattenklee landraces are persistent and locally adapted Swiss red clover populations. About 100 populations are preserved and may represent a significant yet poorly characterised genetic resource for temperate regions. Genetic characterisation is important in order to improve cultivars, manage genetic resources and to maintain or restore biodiversity. The objectives of this study were to analyse genetic diversity, investigate potential ancestry and to elucidate the congruence of phenotypic and genetic structure of Mattenklee landraces.

Improving The Utilisation Of Germplasm Of Trifolium Spumosum L. By The Development Of A Core Collection Using Ecogeographical And Molecular Techniques, K. Ghamkhar, R. Snowball, S. J. Bennett

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

A core collection is a sub-set encompassing more than 70% of the variability of all accessions held in a collection (Brown, 1995). The development of one for Trifolium spumosum (bladder clover) could assist in future development of the cultivar within southern Australia. The aim of this work is to develop a core collection of Trifolium spumosum as a model for other pasture legume species using molecular and ecogeographical data.

Evaluation Of Genetic Diversity In White Clover (Trifolium Repens L.) Through Measurement Of Simple Sequence Repeat (Ssr) Polymorphism, J. George, E. Van Zijll De Jong, T. C. Wilkinson, M. P. Dobrowolski, N. O. I. Cogan, K. F. Smith, J. W. Forster

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

White clover (Trifolium repens L.) is a key important temperate pasture legume. Due to the obligate outbreeding nature of white clover, individual genotypes within cultivars are highly genetically heterogeneous. Genetic diversity has been assessed within and between 16 elite cultivars derived from Europe, North and South America, New Zealand and Australia.

Genetic Diversity Among Alfalfa Cultivars Using Ssr Markers, S. Flajoulot, J. Ronfort, P. Baudouin, T. Huguet, P. Barre, Christian Huyghe, B. Julier

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is an autotetraploid, allogamous and heterozygous species. Cultivated varieties are synthetic cultivars, usually obtained through 3 or 4 generations of panmictic reproduction of a set of various numbers of parents. The parents can be clones, half-sib or full-sib families. The breeders apply selection pressure for some agronomic traits, to induce changes in the genetic background. The objective of this study was to investigate the differentiation level among seven cultivars originating from one breeding program, and between these cultivars and the breeding pool, with eight SSR markers.

Random Amplified Polymorphic Dna Analysis In Section Pnigma Of The Genus Bromus L., M. Tuna, O. Barzani, K. P. Vogel, Avi Golan-Goldhirsh

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The section Pnigma consists of about 60 species. It was shown that Eurasian species of the section with the same ploidy level have similar nuclear DNA contents (Tuna et al., 2001). A linear correlation between nuclear DNA content and ploidy level was also found (Tuna et al., 2001). Furthermore, karyotypes of Eurasian species are similar (Tuna et al., 2004a) but differ from the North American species (Tuna et al., 2004b). Yet, the genetic relationship among species within the section is poorly known (Armstrong, 1991). The objective of this study was to assess the phylogenetic relationships among …

Utilization Of Ssr To Distinguish Alfalfa Cultivars, G. R. Bauchan, C. He, Z-L. Xia

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Simple sequence repeat (SSR) or microsatellite markers are co-dominant, abundant and hyper-variable molecular markers from eukaryotic genomes that are being widely used in genetic mapping and phylogenetic studies. Currently, the number of available SSR markers is still very limited for use in alfalfa (Medicago sativa). Thus, this study was conducted to develop SSR from alfalfa genomic libraries and EST and BAC sequence data from M. truncatula for use in distinguishing the nine historically recognized U.S. germplasm sources and eleven fall dormancy check cultivars of alfalfa.

Genetic Diversity In Zoysiagrass Ecotypes Based On Morphological Characteristics And Ssr Markers, M. Hashiguchi, S. Tsuruta, T. Matsuo, M. Ebina, M. Kobayashi, H. Akamine, Ryo Akashi

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Zoysiagrass consists of a number of interfertile species, some of which are important grasses for turfgrass and grazing pasture in Japan. Recently, we developed simple sequence repeats (SSRs) markers from Zoysia japonica “Asagake” genomic DNA by enriched genomic library method (Yamamoto et al., 2002). Here we identify genetic diversity in 38 ecotypes of zoysiagrass (Z. matrella and Z. tenuifolia) from a group of southwest islands of Japan based on morphological characteristics and SSR markers.

Genetic Diversity In Colonial Bentgrass (Agrostis Capillaris L.) Revealed By Ecori/Msei And Psti/Msei Aflp Markers, H. Zhao, S. Bughrara

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Colonial bentgrass species (Agrostis capillaris L.) is a potential genetic resource for the improvement of other bentgrass species (Agrostis spp.) with regard to resistance to environmental stresses and diseases. Transferring resistance from colonial to other bentgrass species is a promising goal in turfgrass breeding programs (Belanger, 2003). Assessment of genetic diversity among accessions of colonial bentgrass species will contribute to eliminate undesirable duplications in the germplasm collection and increase the efficiency of research efforts. It will allow researcher to select diverse resistance genes from different sources to incorporate and pyramid these resistance genes into creeping or other bentgrass …

Databases For Managing Genetic Resources Collections And Mapping Populations Of Forage And Related Species, I. Thomas, H. J. Ougham, D. Peltier

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Effective management of plant material used in crop improvement and underpinning research is greatly facilitated by a properly designed data structure accessible by all those working with the material. At IGER we have developed the Aberystwyth Genetic Resources Information System, AGRIS, for managing genetic resources acquired through collecting trips, seed exchange, breeding and transgenic programmes. Recently this has been complemented by MaPIS, a Mapping Populations Information System, which links with AGRIS and allows for storage and documentation of information about plant mapping populations, including pedigrees, status and physical locations of accessions and individual genotypes. IGER also maintains the European Central …

The Importance Of Exotic Forage Germplasm In Feeding New Zealand's Livestock, J. Lancashire

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

A number of recent reports in New Zealand have expressed the view that restricted access to new plant genetic material from overseas is a major risk to the future growth of the primary sector (MAF, 2002; Douglas, 2003). The restrictions outlined in this paper are the result of the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act and regulations administered by MAF and the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) since July 1998. This paper reviews the historical role of exotic forage germplasm in plant improvement in New Zealand, and quantifies the current contribution of recently imported plant material to exports from …

Growth, Nitrogen And Phosphorus Economy In Two Lotus Glaber Mill. Cytotypes Grown Under Contrasting P-Availability, D. H. Cogliatti, L. A. Lett, M. S. Barufaldi, P. Segura, J. A. Cardozo

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Lotus glaber Mill. (lotus) is a forage legume with its origin in Europe which has shown an excellent adaptation to the Depressed Pampas of the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The soils colonized by lotus usually have poor drainage, moderate sodium and low extractable P concentrations. An experiment was performed with the aim of comparing the early growth and economy of phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) within two L. glaber cytotypes differing in their ploidy level, a commercial diploid versus an induced autotetraploid population (Barufaldi et al., 2001).

Application Of Molecular Diversity In A Forage Grass Breeding Program, Andrew A. Hopkins, M. C. Saha

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Little or no genotypic information is available for many forage grass populations. The degree of genetic similarity within and among populations greatly influences the choice of breeding strategies and germplasm for developing improved cultivars. Molecular markers have proven effective in classifying genetic diversity of a number of perennial grasses (e.g. Fu et al., 2004; Kubik et al., 2001). We present here an overview of our efforts to integrate molecular diversity data into our breeding program.

Use Of Cellular Automata Modelling Approaches To Understand Potential Impacts Of Gm Grasses On Grassland Communities, R. Colasanti, R. Hunt, L. S. Watrud

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

In order to predict the potential unintended ecological impacts of genetically modified (GM) grasses, we must understand how the engineered traits, in this case herbicide resistance, are expressed in an ecological context. It would be a daunting task to experimentally evaluate the full multiplicity of potential pair-wise interactions between GM plants and native plants under a broad variety of actual environmental conditions. We have employed the modelling methodology of cellular automata (CA), where a plant's distribution within a two-dimensional environmental grid is determined by rules relating to phenomena such as seed dispersal, clonal expansion and interactions with adjacent plants. We …

Shutting The Stable Door After The Horse Has Bolted? Risk Assessment And Regulation For Transgenic Forages, Chris J. Pollock

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The regulation of GM agriculture in Europe is a matter of considerable public interest. The development of a regulatory framework has imposed significant additional costs without generating broad public acceptance. However, the current risk assessment and management framework does provide a basis for considering how the broader issues surrounding the introduction of any novel agricultural technology might be approached.

Development And Field Evaluation Of Transgenic Ryegrass (Lolium Spp.) With Down-Regulation Of Main Pollen Allergens, N. Petrovska, A. Mouradov, Z. Y. Wang, K. F. Smith, G. C. Spangenberg

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Ryegrass (Lolium spp.) pollen is a widespread source of airborne allergens and is a major cause of hayfever and seasonal allergic asthma, which affect approximately 25% of the population in cool temperate climates. The main allergens of ryegrass pollen are the proteins Lol p 1 and Lol p 2. These proteins belong to two major classes of grass pollen allergens to which over 90% of pollen-allergic patients are sensitive. The functional role in planta of these pollen allergen proteins remains largely unknown. The generation, analysis and field evaluation of transgenic plants with reduced levels of the main ryegrass pollen allergens, …

Discovery, Isolation And Characterisation Of Promoters From Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium Perenne), A. Lidgett, N. Petrovska, J. Chalmers, N. Cummings, G. C. Spangenberg

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The availability of a suite of promoters with a range of spatial, temporal and inducible expression patterns is of significant importance to enable targeted expression of genes of interest for molecular breeding of forage species. A range of resources and tools have been developed for promoter isolation and characterisation in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) including genomic lambda and BAC libraries and a 15 K unigene microarray.

Improving Forage Quality Of Tall Fescue (Festuca Arundinacea) By Genetic Manipulation Of Lignin Biosynthesis, Z. -Y. Wang, L. Chen, C. -K. Auh, A. Hopkins, P. Dowling

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Lignification of plant cell walls is a major factor limiting forage digestibility and concomitantly animal productivity. Improvement in forage grass cell wall digestibility has become an important goal of many plant-ruminant animal research programs. Lignins are complex phenolic heteropolymers associated with the polysaccharidic components of the wall in specific plant cells. Lignin in forage grasses comprises guaiacyl (G) units derived from coniferyl alcohol, syringyl (S) units derived from sinapyl alcohol, and p-hydroxyphenyl (H) units derived from p-coumaryl alcohol. Cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD) and caffeic acid O- methyltransferase (COMT) are key enzymes involved in lignin biosynthesis. Tall fescue …

Manipulating The Phenolic Acid Content And Digestibility Of Forage Grasses By Targeted Expression Of Fungal Cell Wall Degrading Enzymes, M. M. De O. Buanafina, P. Morris, T. Langdon, S. J. Dalton, B. Hauck, H. Porter

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Grass cell walls constitute 30-80% of forage dry matter, representing a major source of energy for ruminants. Ferulic acid (4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-cinnamic acid) and other hydroxycinnamic acids are ester linked to arabinosyl residues in arabinoxylans of grass cell walls and undergo oxidative coupling reactions resulting in the formation of a variety of dehydrodiferulate dimers which cross-link cell wall polymers. Although such cross-links have a number of important roles in the cell wall, they also hinder the rate and extent of cell wall degradation by ruminant microbial and fungal enzymes. We have shown previously the expression of a ferulic acid esterase gene from …

Agrobacterium Tumefaciens-Mediated Transformation Of Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium Perenne L.), H. Sato, M. Fujimori, Y. Mano, T. Kiyoshi, T. Takamizo

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

An Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation method has several advantages. However, this method has no example of success in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). Since Lolium species are outcrossing, one cultivar consists of many genotypes. Each genotype can show a different ability for callus formation and plant regeneration (Takahashi et al., 2004). Thus, it is important to select a good genotype for efficient and stable transformation. If the plant is maintained in vitro, we can perform transformation using calli induced from shoot tips of the same genotype at any time. Our objective is to confirm an A. tumefaciens …

A Comparison Of Hygromycin And Paromomycin Selection Strategies In The Genetic Transformation Of Seven Lolium, Festuca, Poa, And Agrostis Species, S. J. Dalton, P. Robson, M. Buanafina, A. J. E. Bettany, E. Timms, P. Morris

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Hygromycin selection for the hpt gene, expressed from the CaMV-35S promoter, has been successful in transgenesis of a limited number of grass species. As an alternative to hpt selection Altpeter et al., (2000) reported successful transformation using paromomycin selection for the nptII gene expressed by the maize ubiquitin promoter. We have tested the utility of a number of selection cassettes using previously sporadically transformable species which nevertheless had very good tissue culture and regeneration protocols.

Nylon Mesh As An Improved Support For Bombarded Calli Or Cell Suspensions, S. J. Dalton, P. Robson, M. Buanafina, A. J. E. Bettany, E. Timms, D. Wiffen, P. Morris

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Using cell suspensions to transform some grass species by particle bombardment has a number of disadvantages including increased somoclonal variation in liquid cell culture and poor performance due to polysaccharide production. The use of calli avoids these problems, but the manipulation of calli through numerous media changes is laborious and time-consuming. We investigated a possible mechanism to facilitate the use of calli in transformation by immobilising calli on mesh.

A Novel Genotype Independent Protocol For In Vitro Plant Regeneration From Mature Seed Derived Callus Of Tall Fescue (Festuca Arundinacea Schreb.), S. Chennareddy, R. V. Sairam, S. L. Goldman

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Tall fescues (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) are cool season forage and turf grasses of significant agricultural importance in different grassland countries. Genetic improvement of tall fescues by conventional selection procedures is slow, since these are predominantly, cross-pollinated, hexaploid and generally infertile (Jauhar, 1993). Genetic Engineering approaches for incorporation of agronomically useful traits may contribute to the development of improved tall fescue cultivars (Spangenberg et al., 1998). However for any genetic engineering studies, it is essential to develop a genotype-independent, reproducible and efficient in vitro plant regeneration protocol. In the present study, we analyzed the effects of different sterilization procedures …

Genetic Engineering For Breeding For Drought Resistance And Salt Tolerance In Agropyron Spp. (Wheatgrass), Fugui Mi, Y. Jinfeng, H. Xiuwen

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Genetic engineering for breeding for drought resistance and salt tolerance in wheatgrass, lucerne and tall fescue is one of the main projects in a major national programs as part of the10^th’five-year national plan: “Research of gene transfer in plants and its industrialisation”. It is a large project that has financial support for work on forage crops in China and many research institutes and universities take part in it. The Inner Mongolia Agricultural University is in charge of the project on wheatgrass. The research was started in Nov. 2002. The general situation and the primary results are introduced and …

Genetic Transformation Of Rhodesgrass (Chloris Gayana Kunth.) By Particle Bombardment, J. Matsumoto, S. Tsuruta, T. Gondo, Ryo Akashi

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Rhodesgrass (Chloris gayana Kunth) has been cultivated as one of the most important warm-season grasses in the world. One of the major limitations for cattle production on forage grasses, especially warm-season grasses is poor digestibility if compared to temperate grasses (Gondo et al., 2003). It is believed that the low digestibility of warm-season grasses is due to high lignin contents (Akashi et al., 2003). Recently, modification of the lignin content of plants appears to be feasible using genetic engineering strategies. We have established a methodology for high-frequency somatic embryogenesis and multiple shoot formation from seed-derived shoot apical …

Molecular Breeding Of White Clover For Transgenic Resistance To Alfalfa Mosaic Virus And Natural Resistance To Clover Yellow Vein Virus, P. Chu, G. Zhao, G. C. Spangenberg

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Trifolium repens L. (white clover) is one of the most important pastoral plants in temperate Australia. Its productivity and persistence is being reduced significantly by Alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV), Clover yellow vein virus (ClYVV) and White clover mosaic virus (WClMV). These viruses are also widespread in other legumes and are inflicting large economic losses to farmers throughout the world (Campbell, 1984). To reduce the economic impact of these viruses, white clover plants resistant to both ClYVV and AMV are being developed for future commercial release. Since introducing viral transgenes from two or more viruses into a transgenic plant has the …