The origin of polyploids via 2n gametes in Vaccinium section Cyanococcus

The production of 2n pollen (pollen with the sporophytic chromosome number) was evaluated in 4x and 6x taxa of Vaccinium section Cyanococcus . Mean frequencies of 2n pollen producers were 17.1% and 8.3% in natural 4x and 6x populations, respectively. The frequency of 2n pollen producers in the 4x species ranged from 8.6% ( V. angustifolium ) to 23.8% ( V. pallidum ). Level of 2n pollen production was genotypically variable (1% to 37.4%). The widespread occurrence of 2n pollen in 2x, 4x and 6x taxa suggests that sexual polyploidization was widespread and responsible for the origin of the polyploid species found in this genus. The frequency of 2n pollen producers was not significantly different between the 4x species and their putative 2x ancestors. These results support the origin of 4x and 6x taxa as a consequence of sexual polyploidization. Polyploids derived from sexual polyploidization would be expected to have increased fitness and flexibility due to the mode of 2n pollen formation. In blueberry species the predominant mode of 2n pollen formation is genetically equivalent to a first division restitution mechanism (FDR). FDR 2n pollen transmits a high percentage of the heterozygosity and a large fraction of the epistasis from the 2x parent to the 4x offspring.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/42736/1/10681_2004_Article_BF00039664.pd

Breeding potatoes for developing countries using wild tuber bearing Solanum spp. and ploidy manipulations

The use of ploidy manipulations in potato breeding has been successfully applied by breeders at the International Potato Center (CIP) as a tool for germplasm enhancement and for the introduction of desirable genes of wild species into the cultivated gene pool. This methodology consists in reducing the ploidy level using haploids (2n = 2x = 24) and increasing it through the utilization of 2n gametes. It takes advantage of working at the 2x level to develop genotypes which combine multiple pest/disease resistance and a high frequency of 2n gametes. The specific resistances are obtained mainly from wild species. Then, desirable attributes are transferred to the 4x level by unilateral sexual polyploidization (4x x 2x crosses) using first division restitution (FOR) 2n pollen. CIP's work demonstrates that this approach has been very efficient for the transmission of resistance to cyst and root-knot nematodes, bacterial wilt, early blight and potato tuber moth as well as producing high yielding 4x genotypes which also have yield stability over environments. This recently developed germplasm is now available for potato breeders in developing countries who can produce high yielding and resistant 4x clones adapted to the growing conditions of their countries