Reproductive biology of Sporobolus phleoides Hack. (Poaceae), an endemic halophyte grass of Argentina

GERALDINA ALICIA RICHARD; JOSÉ FRANCISCO PENSIERO; MARÍA CAROLINA CERINO; BEATRIZ GLORIA GALATI; HUGO FRANCISCO GUTIÉRREZ

PLANT SYSTEMATICS AND EVOLUTION

SPRINGER WIEN

Lugar: Viena; Año: 2015

0378-2697

Sporobolus phleoides is an endemic grass of Argentina considered an important genetic resource for saline environments due to its salinity tolerance. Basic information about its reproductive biology is needed to adequately preserve its genetic variability. Hence, we studied its breeding system through phenology, embryological analysis, and self-pollination vs.versus openpollination treatments in six populations collected from four provinces of Argentina. The results indicated that S. phleoides is mainly autogamous with a high fertility rate. Cleistogamous and chasmogamous spikelets are isomorphic and occur simultaneously on the inflorescence, with higher percentages of cleistogamy found in the basal region of the panicle. The average percentage of cleistogamy during the study period was 23%23 % for all populations evaluated. The development of the embryo sac follows the typical pattern of grasses and indicates normal sexual reproduction. This study provides the basis for programming genotype collections for gene banks and future plans of domestication.