Plant & Animal Genome IX Conference Plant & Animal Genome IX Conference
Workshop: Forage & Turfgrass
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Perennial grasses are subjected to a wide range of utilization under various biotic and abiotic constraints. Assessing genetic diversity in morphogenetic patterns is the key-factor for understanding the ecological success of the Poaceae botanical family in the world and for increasing chances to release new better adapted varieties. In this respect, we are surveying genetic variability in the Festuca-Lolium complex likely to provide genetic responses to most situations of present and future utilization of forage crops in Western Europe. Also, the potential for hybridization and introgression within this complex gives unique opportunity for assessing genes controlling leaf morphogenesis in various genome backgrounds and for making use of the whole available genetic variability. Ecophysiological models of leaf growth are being elaborated to define ideotypes of grasses for a given utilization and levels of constraints (rate of defoliation, mineral and water resources, temperature) while molecular markers (AFLP, RAPD, STS) are currently developed at various levels of genetic variability: among varieties as official test for identification and registration, among natural populations for optimizing the management of genetic resources and understanding evolutionary aspects in the complex. From diploid and tetraploid mapping populations, at intraspecific (L. perenne) and interspecific level (L. multiflorum x F. glaucescens BC2 into L. multiflorum), a QTL approach has been recently carried out which gives first understandings of the genetic relationship between complex traits such as leaf growth, persistency and drought tolerance while emphasizing potential efficiency of Marker Assisted Selection for breeding.