Cytogenetics of the Festuca-Lolium Complex

Presented here are modern and classical aspects of
cytogenetics as well as biotechnology in relation to
improvement of the Festuca-Lolium group of grasses. Festuca
and its close relative Lolium are very valuable genera of
temperate agriculture. These fascinating genera contain
some highly productive, nutritious, and well-adapted grasses
widely used for agricultural and recreational purposes world
wide.
The book is organizedinto 15 chapters devoted to taxonomy
and systematics; species evolution and divergence by
increase in chromosome number as well as by change in DNA
content; genetic control of chromosome pairing and its
breeding and phylogenetic implications; B chromosomes,
induced polyploidy and haploidy inrelation to varietal
improvement; wide hybridization, genome relationships, and
plant improvement; genomic balance in relation to hybrid
fertility and hererosis breeding; biotechnology and its
potential applications in plant improvement.
It is of special interest to geneticists, taxonomists,
evolutionists, biotechnologists, and plant breeders.

Texte du rabat

Presented here are modern and classical aspects of cytogenetics as well as biotechnology in relation to improvement of the Festuca-Lolium group of grasses. Festuca and its close relative Lolium are very valuable genera of temperate agriculture. These fascinating genera contain some highly productive, nutritious, and well-adapted grasses widely used for agricultural and recreational purposes world wide. The book is organizedinto 15 chapters devoted to taxonomy and systematics; species evolution and divergence by increase in chromosome number as well as by change in DNA content; genetic control of chromosome pairing and its breeding and phylogenetic implications; B chromosomes, induced polyploidy and haploidy inrelation to varietal improvement; wide hybridization, genome relationships, and plant improvement; genomic balance in relation to hybrid fertility and hererosis breeding; biotechnology and its potential applications in plant improvement. It is of special interest to geneticists, taxonomists, evolutionists, biotechnologists, and plant breeders.

Contenu
1 The Festuca-Lolium Complex: a Fascinating Group of Grasses.- 1.1 Agronomic Importance.- 1.2 Distribution.- 1.3 Genetic Systems and Strategy for Germplasm Collection and Preservation.- 2 Taxonomic Treatments.- 2.1 General Considerations.- 2.2 Taxonomic Value of Epidermal Patterns and Leaf Sections.- 2.3 Limitations Imposed by Natural Introgression.- 2.4 The Lolium-Festuca-Vulpia Complex.- 2.5 Lolium L.- 2.6 Festuca L.- 2.7 Festuca arundinacea, a Compilospecies.- 2.8 Cytotaxonomic Affinities: Phylogenetic Considerations in the Festuca-Vulpia-Lolium Complex.- 3 Karyotypes and Species Evolution and Divergence.- 3.1 Karyotypic Features and Taxonomy.- 3.2 General Techniques of Studying Somatic Chromosomes.- 3.3 Chromosome Size Variation Among Diploids and Polyploids.- 3.4 Evolution by Increase in Chromosome Numbers.- 3.5 Evolution by Changes in DNA Content.- 3.6 DNA Content and Growth Habit.- 3.7 Constitutive Heterochromatin.- 3.8 Nucleolar Organizer Activity.- 4 Meiosis in Diploid and Polyploid Species.- 4.1 General Technique of Studying Meiosis.- 4.2 Meiosis in Diploids.- 4.3 Diploid-Like Meiosis in Polyploids.- 4.4 Breakdown of Diploidizing Mechanism in Haploid Complements in Hybrids.- 4.5 Chromosome Pairing in Polyhaploids.- 4.6 B Chromosomes in Relation to Diploidization of Tall Fescue.- 4.7 Different Diploidizing Mechanisms Compared and Contrasted.- 5 Reproductive Isolation Barriers Within the Tall Fescue Complex.- 5.1 Cytogenetic Basis of Reproductive Isolation.- 5.2 Various Other Meiotic Abnormalities in Hybrids Between Diverse Ecotypes.- 5.3 Occurrence of Univalents at Metaphase I: a Case of Desynapsis.- 5.4 Formation of Multivalents: Genetic Bases.- 5.5 Haplo-Insufficiency of the Pairing Control Genes?.- 5.6 Genetic Repression of Diploidizing Gene(s): an Example.- 6 Phylogenetic and Breeding Implications of the Genetic Control of Chromosome Pairing.- 6.1 Phylogenetic Relationships.- 6.2 Evolutionary Implications.- 6.3 Breeding Implications.- 7 B Chromosomes.-7.1 Occurrence and Adaptive Value.- 7.2 Pairing Among B Chromosomes in Hexaploid Tall Fescue.- 7.3 Effect on Genetic Recombination.- 7.4 Suppression of Homoeologous Pairing in Hybrids.- 7.5 B Chromosomes in Relation to Plant Breeding.- 8 Natural and Induced Polyploidy.- 8.1 Natural Polyploidy and Its Adaptive Value in Festuca.- 8.2 Absence of Natural Polyploidy in Lolium.- 8.3 Induced Polyploidy in Lolium.- 8.4 Distinguishing Features of Synthetic Polyploids of Lolium.- 8.5 Induced Polyploidy in Festuca.- 8.6 Occurrence of Aneuploids in Synthetic Polyploids.- 8.7 Polyploidy in Relation to Plant Breeding.- 9 Haploidy.- 9.1 Lolium Haploids.- 9.2 Festuca Haploids.- 10 Aneuploids.- 10.1 Lolium.- 10.2 Hexaploid Tall Fescue.- 11 Intra- and Inter-Specific Hybridization, Genome Relationships, and Plant Improvement.- 11.1 General Importance.- 11.2 Crossing Techniques.- 11.3 The Embryo Rescue Technique.- 11.4 Extensive Hybridization Work.- 11.5 General Meiotic Abnormalities in Wide Hybrids.- 11.6 Phylogenetic Proximity Among Species of the Lolium-Festuca Complex: a Generalized Picture.- 11.7 Intraspecific Hybrids in Lolium L.- 11.8 Intraspecific Hybrids in Festuca L..- 11.9 Interspecific Hybrids in Lolium.- 11.10 Hybrids Between the Two Ryegrasses: Development of Superior Germplasm.- 11.11 Interspecific Hybrids in Festuca.- 11.12 F. arundinacea (6x) x F. gigantea (6x) Hybridization: Development of Superior Germplasm.- 12 Intergeneric Hybridization, Genome Relationships, and Plant Improvement.- 12.1 Possible Affinity Between Festuca and Other Grass Genera.- 12.2 General Affinities Between Lolium and Festuca.- 12.3 Natural Hybrids.- 12.4 Synthetic Hybrids.- 12.5 Variation in Chromosome Size Between Diploid Species and Pairing in Their Hybrids.- 12.6 Intergeneric Hybridization and Production of Superior Breeding Material.- 13 Genomic Balance in Relation to Hybrid Fertility and Plant Improvement.- 13.1 Width of the Cross and Crossing Success.- 13.2 Choice of Parents.- 13.3 Choiceof Female Parent.- 13.4 Genomic Constitution and Hybrid Fertility.- 14 Biotechnology in Festuca-Lolium Improvement.- 14.1 General Scope and Importance: Genetic Engineering.- 14.2 Meristem-Tip Culture: a Method to Eliminate Pathogens.- 14.3 In Vitro Callus Cultures and Screening for Tall Fescue Endophyte.- 14.4 Organogenesis and Embryogenesis.- 14.5 In Vitro Cultures and Plant Regeneration.- 14.6 Anther Culture.- 14.7 Somaclonal and Gametoclonal Variation.- 14.8 Colchicine-Induced Variation.- 14.9 Environmentally Induced Somatic Variation.- 14.10 Cytogenetic Manipulation of Hybrid Material.- 14.11 In Vitro Chromosome Doubling.- 14.12 Protoplast Cultures: Regeneration of Plants.- 14.13 Genetic Manipulation at the Cellular Level.- 15 Conclusions and Perspectives.- References.