Production of aneuploids of the cotton hybrid G. barbadense × G. hirsutum L. via intergeneric pollination with Abelmoschus esculentus

Abstract

The possibility to induce embryo development after pollination of F 1 interspecific cotton hybrids (Gossypium barbadense · Gossypium. hirsutum) with pollen from Abelmoschus esculentus was investigated to determine if wide-cross hybrid, haploid or other types of progeny might result. Small numbers of progeny (Pa) were indeed recovered after numerous alien pollinations and in-planta development or in-vitro culture. The Pa plants were characterized phenotypically and studied cytogenetically and microscopically to help establish their origin documenting their reproductive basis. Root-tip chromosome counts and meiotic Metaphase-I analyses revealed that chromosome numbers among cells of the Pa plants ranged from 33 to 44 and that the differences in chromosome number among cells of the same plant ranged from 1 to 3, indicating somatic instability. Flow cytometric analysis also indicated the aneuploid nature of Pa plants. Although the reproductive mechanisms need to be characterized more extensively by cytological and molecular means, the observations suggest that alien pollinations may have resulted in parthenogenetic (Pa) egg cell development, or some other unusual reproductive events. The production of wide-crosses and high degrees of aneuploidy could be of use for several types of genomic studies, e.g., functional genomic characterization of genome shock, deletion mapping, and germplasm introgression.

In vitro gynogenesis in cotton (Gossypium sp.)

“…The greatest number of plantlets per 100 cultured ovules resulted from the ovules of B403 9 4S (14.3%) ovaries pretreated with H. cannabinus pollen. Alien pollen pre-treatment of cotton pistils seems to have a strong influence on gynogenesis in vitro (Kantartzi and Roupakias 2008b;Mavromatis et al 2005). Maize pollen pretreatment has increased the production of haploid embryos in cultured ovules of wheat in a widely used breeding technique over the last 15 years, where maize serves only as an inducer (Laurie and Bennett 1989;Brazauskas et al 2004).…”

Fruit set and plant regeneration in cassava following interspecific pollination with castor bean

“…Aneuploids were also obtained in an intergeneric cross involving pollination of F 1 interspecific cotton hybrids (Gossypium barbadense × Gossypium. hirsutum) with pollen from Abelmoschus esculentus (Kantartzi and Roupakias, 2008).…”