221-8 Dissecting the Genetics of Rhizomatousness: Towards Sustainable Food, Forage, and Bioenergy.



Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Henry Gonzalez Convention Center, Hall C, Street Level

Jacob D. Washburn1, Seth Murray2, Byron Burson2 and Russell Jessup2, (1)Texas A&M University, college station, TX
(2)Soil and Crop Science, Texas A&M University, college station, TX
Rhizomatousness is a key trait influencing both the perenniality and biomass partitioning of plants. Increased understanding of the genetic control of rhizome growth offers potential towards the creation of more sustainable grain, forage, and bioenergy cropping systems. It is also applicable to the advent of control methods for some of the world’s most problematic weeds, notably Johnsongrass [Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers]. The sorghum genus has become a model for the identification of genes controlling rhizomatousness and perenniality.  QTLs correlated with rhizome growth have previously been identified using populations derived from crosses between S. bicolor (L.) Moench. and S. propinquum (Kunth.) Hitchc. In this study we have used a population of F4 NIL’s segregating for rhizomatousness to further refine a previously identified QTL region.  Results and implications will be discussed.
See more from this Division: C01 Crop Breeding & Genetics
See more from this Session: Plant Breeding and Genetics Graduate Poster Competition