Unravelling the molecular basis of the transition from sexual to asexual seed formation in Paspalum

PESSINO, SILVINA

Praga

Congreso; Apomixis Satellite Meeting-International Conference on Sexual Plant Reproduction; 2022

Universitá degli Studi di Milano, Institute of Botany CAS, University of Wageningen, Keygene

Plenary talkUnravelling the molecular basis of the transition from sexual to asexual seed formation in PaspalumSilvina PessinoIICAR (Agricultural Science Research Institute of Rosario), National University of Rosario, National Council for Scientific Research, Argentina.The genus Paspalum is organized as an agamic complex including numerous species with sexual diploid and apomictic polyploid counterparts. We are investigating the molecular control of aposporous apomixis in this particular genus, with special focus in the species Paspalum notatum. Segregating pseudotestcross populations were used to map the apomixis controlling region (ACR), reference genomes were sequenced from several sexual and apomictic genotypes, the ACR genetic and epigenetic landscape was characterized, a group of RNAs differentially expressed in apomictic and sexual plant ovules was identified and selected candidate genes were functionally characterized. Our results revealed that in Paspalum apomixis is controlled by a single hemizygous genome region under epigenetic control, numerous lncRNAs and transposon-like sequences are being expressed from this region, alterations in the auxin pathway are possibly regulating alternative differentiation routes in the ovule and specific genes like TGS1 and QGJ are central to trigger non-reduced embryo sac formation.