Characterization of Self-Incompatibility in the Bioenergy Grass Miscanthus
EMSL Project ID
51502
Abstract
Miscanthus is a widely adapted high biomass perennial grass, commonly grown as an ornamental, that shows promise as a bioenergy crop. Most available Miscanthus lines, including the high yielding interspecific hybrid, Miscanthus x giganteus (Mxg), are natural wild accessions and breeding programs are still in their infancy. Efficient breeding programs are key to successful cultivar development, but it is not a straightforward process in self-incompatible crops like Miscanthus. Self-incompatibility (SI) prevents self fertilization through a variety of mechanisms. SI prevents inbreeding depression by promoting outcrossing and hybrid vigour in the progeny. While useful for adaptability in the wild, SI hinders directed breeding as desired crosses may not be possible. In addition, every seed from a cross is genetically different, making a seeded plot non-uniform. Since Miscanthus is a rhizomatous perennial, a uniform field can still be obtained by planting rhizomes from the desired genotype. However, this will increase the cost of propagation as well as the cost of establishment compared to seed based propagation. Validated markers for SI in Miscanthus will allow breeders to quickly determine which lines to cross, and help them develop optimal crossing schemes. Understanding the mechanism of SI will enable the development of methods for manipulating or breaking SI. This will both increase the number of possible crosses and allow the development of inbred lines and uniform, seeded hybrids, a breeding strategy that has been highly successful in maize.Although SI is common among flowering plants, the mechanisms are quite diverse with inhibition occurring at any stage between pollination and fertilization. In Miscanthus, we have mapped SI to a single 30Mb region on chromosome 15. This project will use a combination of omics techniques to decrease the size of this interval and develop a set of markers that breeders can use to develop a crossing plan. Our ultimate goal is to identify a handful of candidate genes that can be further tested for their role in self-incompatibility.
Project Details
Project type
FICUS Research
Start Date
2020-10-01
End Date
2022-09-30
Status
Closed
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator
Team Members