Genetic diversity in a world germplasm collection of tall fescue

Abstract

Festuca arundinacea Schreb., commonly known as tall fescue, is a major forage crop in temperate regions. Recently, a molecular analysis of different accessions of a world germplasm collection of tall fescue has demonstrated that it contains different species from the genus Festuca and allowed their rapid classification into the three major morphotypes (Continental, Mediterranean and Rhizomatous). In this study, we explored the genetic diversity of 161 accessions of Festuca species from 29 countries, including 28 accessions of INTA (Argentina), by analyzing 15 polymorphic SSR markers by capillary electrophoresis. These molecular markers allowed us to detect a total of 214 alleles. The number of alleles per locus varied between 5 and 24, and the values of polymorphic information content ranged from 0.627 to 0.840. In addition, the accessions analyzed by flow cytometry showed different ploidy levels (diploid, tetraploid, hexaploid and octaploid), placing in evidence that the world germplasm collection consisted of multiple species, as previously suggested. Interestingly, almost all accessions of INTA germplasm collection were true hexaploid tall fescue, belonging to two eco-geographic races (Continental and Mediterranean). Finally, the data presented revealed an ample genetic diversity of tall fescue showing the importance of preserving the INTA collection for future breeding programs.

Comparative study of diversity based on heat tolerant-related morpho-physiological traits and molecular markers in tall fescue accessions

“…In the present study, high number of SSR alleles per locus indicated a high significant allelic richness among the panel of accessions, at a mean of 11.16 alleles per locus (ranging from 3 to 26). The result was consistent with the study of Cuyeu et al 36 that detected 14.2 alleles per locus (ranging from 5 to 24) in 161 tall fescue by analyzing 15 polymorphic SSR markers. Tehrani et al 15 obtained a low mean of 5.9 polymorphic bands ranging from 2 to 11 alleles in analysis of 37 tall fescue individuals from Iran by 11 SSR markers.…”

“…AMOVA suggested that 98.13% of the genetic variation resided among accessions within the population, with a statistically significant variance in heterogeneity within populations. Cuyeu et al 36 also revealed that 71% variance in 161 tall fescue accessions from 29 counties by 15 SSRs. The results indicated that tall fescue germplasm have a large diversity within the populations.…”

Alkaloid Genotype Diversity of Tall Fescue Endophytes

“…Rhizomatous tall fescue, named for its longer and more prevalent rhizomes, originated from the Iberian Peninsula but appears to be closely related to the Continental morphotype (Cuyeu et al, 2013;Hand et al, 2010). Three distinct morphotypes, Continental, Mediterranean, and rhizomatous (also known as races), have been described.…”

“…Continental or summer-active tall fescue is prevalent in northern Europe and is the primary cultivated germplasm used as forage in temperate regions and widely adapted within the United States. Rhizomatous tall fescue, named for its longer and more prevalent rhizomes, originated from the Iberian Peninsula but appears to be closely related to the Continental morphotype (Cuyeu et al, 2013;Hand et al, 2010). Both Continental and rhizomatous tall fescue have hexaploid genomic constitutions (Hand et al, 2010.…”

Linkage Maps of a Mediterranean × Continental Tall Fescue Population and their Comparative Analysis with Other Poaceae Species

“…Tall fescue is a cross‐pollinated species possessing high levels of heterozygosity. Nearly all progeny are genetically unique, and substantial amounts of genetic variation occur both within (71%) and between (29%) populations (Cuyeu et al, 2013). Tall fescue, an allohexaploid (2 n = 6 x = 42), is part of a larger group of related plants that range from diploid (e.g., F. pratensis Huds.…”