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Generation of Octaploid Switchgrass by Seedling Treatment with Mitotic Inhibitors

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Abstract

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) exists as multiple cytotypes with octaploid (8x) and tetraploid (4x) populations occupying distinct, overlapping ranges. These cytotypes tend to show differences in adaptation, yield potential, and other characters, but the specific result of whole-genome duplication is not clear and 8x and 4x switchgrass populations are reproductively isolated with limited genetic exchange. To create new opportunities for population improvement and to study the effects of whole genome duplication on switchgrass, seedling treatment of the tetraploid cultivar Liberty with microtubule inhibitors was used to generate an octaploid population. Resulting octaploids, tetraploids, and cytochimeras were resolved by intercrossing octaploid sectors to produce a population of 19 octaploid families. Fertility of octaploid sectors was significantly reduced relative to tetraploid sectors and caryopsis size significantly increased. Cell size was significantly increased which resulted in quantitative changes to leaf anatomy. During seedling and early vegetative growth stages, no differences in vigor or tillering ability were seen. This technique resulted in efficient genome doubling and was simple to perform. However, aneuploids were also identified with both larger and smaller than expected genome sizes.

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Acknowledgments

This material is based upon work supported by the US Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Biological and Environmental Research under Award Number DE-SC0008797. This work was also supported by the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) Current Research Information System (CRIS) 2030-21000-023. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Mention of trade names or commercial products in this publication is solely for the purpose of specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the US Department of Agriculture. Thanks to Yoonsoo Han for assistance with flow cytometry and for care of plants in the greenhouse.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, 1 Shields Ave, Davis, CA, 95616, USA

    Sangwoong Yoon, Sheyla Aucar & Eduardo Blumwald

  2. USDA-ARS Crop Improvement and Genetics Research Unit, Western Regional Research Center, 800 Buchanan Street, Albany, CA, 94710, USA

    Bradley J. Hernlem & Christian M . Tobias

  3. USDA-ARS Grain Forage and Bioenergy Research Unit, 251 Filley Hall University of Nebraska, East Campus, Lincoln, NE, 68583, USA

    Serge Edme, Nathan Palmer, Gautam Sarath & Robert Mitchell

Authors
  1. Sangwoong Yoon
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  2. Sheyla Aucar
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  3. Bradley J. Hernlem
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  4. Serge Edme
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  5. Nathan Palmer
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  6. Gautam Sarath
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  7. Robert Mitchell
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  8. Eduardo Blumwald
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  9. Christian M . Tobias
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Correspondence to Christian M . Tobias.

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Yoon, S., Aucar, S., Hernlem, B.J. et al. Generation of Octaploid Switchgrass by Seedling Treatment with Mitotic Inhibitors. Bioenerg. Res. 10, 344–352 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12155-016-9795-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12155-016-9795-2

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