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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Griffin, Georgia » Plant Genetic Resources Conservation Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #237445
Title: Genetic Diversity of Warm-Season Turfgrass: Seashore Paspalum, Bermudagrass, and Zoysiagrass Revealed by AFLPs

Author
item ZHENBANG, CHEN - UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
item Wang, Ming
item WALTZ, CLINT - UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
item RAYMER, PAUL - UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA

Submitted to: Floriculture, Ornamental and Plant Biotechnology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/11/2009
Publication Date: 7/25/2009
Citation: Zhenbang, C., Wang, M.L., Waltz, C., Raymer, P. 2009. Genetic Diversity of Warm-Season Turfgrass: Seashore Paspalum, Bermudagrass, and Zoysiagrass Revealed by AFLPs. FLORICULTURE, ORNAMENTAL AND PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY. Online ISSN 1749-0308 3:1 p.20-24.

Interpretive Summary: Three major types of warm-season turfgrass, including seashore paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum Swartz), bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.], and zoysiagrass [Zoysia japonica Steud., Zoysia matrella (L.) Merr., and Zoysia tenuifolia auct.] cover many of the golf courts and sport fields in southern regions of the U.S. Improvement of turfgrass cultivars has been mainly based on the selection from natural mutations or genetic variations resulting from recombination of different ecotypes or species (hybrid bermudagrass and zoysiagrass). Genetic diversity among species and among turfgrass cultivars within species (including 10 seashore paspalum cultivars, 14 bermudagrass cultivars, and 24 zoysiagrass cultivars and elite lines) was assessed using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers. Among species, the polymorphism level of zoysiagrass is higher than bermudagrass and the polymorphism level of bermudagrass is higher than seashore paspalum. Our results demonstrated that AFLP is one of the useful DNA marker systems for quickly revealing the level of genetic diversity among species and assessing the genetic diversity of different turfgrass cultivars within the species. However, some released turfgrass cultivars could not be differentiated in this report by AFLP markers because they were developed from the parents that are closely related genetically. To enhance turfgrass breeding efficiency, different types of DNA marker systems should be used for evaluating turfgrass germplasm. Based on genetic diversity evaluation, more diverged parents should be selected and used to make crosses for developing new turfgrass cultivars.

Technical Abstract: Three major types of warm-season turfgrass, including seashore paspalum, bermudagrass, and zoysiagrass cover many of the golf courts and sport fields in southern regions of the U.S. Improvement of turfgrass cultivars has been mainly based on the selection from natural mutations or genetic variations resulting from recombination of different ecotypes or species. Genetic diversity among species and among turfgrass cultivars within species (including 10 seashore paspalum cultivars, 14 bermudagrass cultivars, and 24 zoysiagrass cultivars and elite lines) was assessed using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers. Among species, the polymorphism level of zoysiagrass is higher than bermudagrass and the polymorphism level of bermudagrass is higher than seashore paspalum. Our results demonstrated that AFLP is one of the useful DNA marker systems for quickly revealing the level of genetic diversity among species and assessing the genetic diversity of different turfgrass cultivars within thes species. However, some released turfgrass cultivars could not be differentiated in this report by AFLP markers because they were developed from the genetically closely related parents. To enhance turfgrass breeding efficiency, different types of DNA marker systems should be used for evaluating turfgrass germplasm. Based on genetic diversity evaluation, more diverged parents should be selected and used to make crosses for developing new turfgrass cultivars.