Comparative host tissue Réactions of Musa acuminate (AAA group) cvs Poyo and Gros Michel roots to three banana-parasitic nématodes

In a comparative histopathological investigation, Poyo and Gros Michel cul-tivars of Musa acuminata (AAA triploid) were inoculated with Radopholus similis, Helicotylenchus multicinctus or Hoplolaimus pararobustus and were grown in a greenhouse under tropical conditions. R. similis infected all the cortical parenchyma layers of the roots, reaching the vascular cylinder, but it stayed more superficial in Gros Michel roots. Red-brown cytoplasmic globules appeared in the cortical parenchyma cells of Gros Michel only. H. multicinctus infected much of the outer cortical parenchyma in roots of both cultivars with a few phenolic cells occurring around the superficial lesions. H. pararobustus penetrated only the immediate sub-epidermal tissues in both cultivars. The differences observed between nématodes and cultivars reflect specific host-nematode interactions on bananas.     

Gamete production patterns and mating systems in water frogs of the hybridogenetic Pelophylax esculentus complex in north‐eastern Ukraine

Hybridization and polyploidy play an important role in animal speciation. European water frogs of the Pelophylax esculentus complex demonstrate unusual genetic phenomena associated with hybridization, clonality and polyploidy which presumably indicate an initial stage of reticulate speciation. The Seversky Donets River drainage in north‐eastern Ukraine is inhabited by both sexes of the diploid and triploid hybrid P. esculentus and only one parental species Pelophylax ridibundus. Based on the presence of various types of hybrids, all populations studied can be divided into three geographical groups: I) P. ridibundus–P. esculentus without triploids; II) P. ridibundus–P. esculentus without diploid hybrids; and III) P. ridibundus–P. esculentus with a mixture of diploids and triploids. A study of gametogenesis revealed that diploid P. esculentus in populations of the first type usually produced haploid gametes of P. ridibundus and a mixture of haploid gametes that carried one or another parental genome (hybrid amphispermy). In populations of the second type, hybrids are derived from crosses of P. ridibundus males with triploid hybrid females producing haploid eggs with a genome of P. lessonae. Therefore, we suggest that clonal genome duplication in these eggs might be the result of suppression of second polar body formation or extra precleavage endoreduplication. In populations of the third type, some diploid females can produce diploid gametes. Fertilization of these eggs with haploid sperm can result in triploid hybrids. Other hybrids here produce haploid gametes with one or another parental genome or their mixture giving rise to new diploid hybrids.     

Foundation characteristics of edible Musa triploids revealed from allelic distribution of SSR markers

Background and Aims

The production of triploid banana and plantain (Musa spp.) cultivars with improved characteristics (e.g. greater disease resistance or higher yield), while still preserving the main features of current popular cultivars (e.g. taste and cooking quality), remains a major challenge for Musa breeders. In this regard, breeders require a sound knowledge of the lineage of the current sterile triploid cultivars, to select diploid parents that are able to transmit desirable traits, together with a breeding strategy ensuring final triploidization and sterility. Highly polymorphic single sequence repeats (SSRs) are valuable markers for investigating phylogenetic relationships.

Methods

Here, the allelic distribution of each of 22 SSR loci across 561 Musa accessions is analysed.

Key Results and Conclusions

We determine the closest diploid progenitors of the triploid ‘Cavendish’ and ‘Gros Michel’ subgroups, valuable information for breeding programmes. Nevertheless, in establishing the likely monoclonal origin of the main edible triploid banana subgroups (i.e. ‘Cavendish’, ‘Plantain’ and ‘Mutika-Lujugira’), we postulated that the huge phenotypic diversity observed within these subgroups did not result from gamete recombination, but rather from epigenetic regulations. This emphasizes the need to investigate the regulatory mechanisms of genome expression on a unique model in the plant kingdom. We also propose experimental standards to compare additional and independent genotyping data for reference.     

Gamete production patterns,ploidy, and population genetics reveal evolutionary significant units in hybrid water frogs (Pelophylax esculentus)

The European water frog Pelophylax esculentus is a natural hybrid between P. lessonae (genotype LL) and P. ridibundus (RR). It reproduces through hybridogenesis, eliminating one parental genome from its germline and producing gametes containing the genome of the other parental species. According to previous studies, this elimination and transmission pattern is very diverse. In mixed populations, where only diploid hybrids (LR) live in sympatry and mate with one or both parental species, the excluded genome varies among regions, and the remaining genome is transmitted clonally to haploid gametes. In all‐hybrid populations consisting of diploid (LR) and triploid (LLR and/or LRR) frogs, diploid individuals also produce gametes clonally (1n in males, 2n in females), whereas triploids eliminate the genome they have in single copy and produce haploid gametes containing the recombined other genome. However, here, too, regional differences seem to exist, and some triploids have been reported to produce diploid gametes. In order to systematically study such regional and genotype differences in gamete production, their potential origin, and their consequences for the breeding system, we sampled frogs from five populations in three European countries, performed crossing experiments, and investigated the genetic variation through microsatellite analysis. For four populations, one in Poland, two in Germany, and one in Slovakia, our results confirmed the elimination and transmission pattern described above. In one Slovakian population, however, we found a totally different pattern. Here, triploid males (LLR) produce sperm with a clonally transmitted diploid LL genome, rather than a haploid recombined L genome, and LR females clonally produce haploid R eggs, rather than diploid LR eggs. These differences among the populations in gamete production go along with differences in genomotype composition, breeding system (i.e., the way triploids are produced), and genetic variation. These differences are strong evidence for a polyphyletic origin of triploids. Moreover, our findings shed light on the evolutionary potential inherent to the P. esculentus complex, where rare events due to untypical gametogenetic processes can lead to the raise, the perpetuation, and the dispersion of new evolutionary significant lineages which may also deserve special conservation measures.     

Electrophoretic identification of polyploidCamellia japonica (Theaceae) cultivars and evidence for their sexual origin

Electrophoretic examination of allozymes from 189Camellia japonica cultivars revealed some banding patterns not explainable by codominant diploid genetics. At several loci encoding dimeric enzymes, 5 and 6 banded patterns were observed in 7 cultivars. These patterns are interpreted as resulting from triploidy or aneuploidy, where three variant alleles code for products which are electrophoretically distinguishable and associate to form three homodimers and three heterodimers. The presence of allozyme multiplicity in these clones suggests a sexual rather than a somatic mode of triploid origin.     

Reproductive capacity of triploid loaches obtained from Hokkaido Island, Japan

Reproductive capacity was investigated in naturally occurring triploid individuals of the loach Misgurnus anguillicaudatus collected from Memanbetsu Town, Abashiri County, Hokkaido Island, Japan. These triploids have been considered to appear by accidental incorporation of the haploid sperm genome from normal diploid into unreduced diploid eggs from the clonal lineage that usually reproduces unisexually. By fertilization with sperm from the normal male, one triploid female gave many inviable aneuploid (2.1–2.7n) and very few tetraploid progeny, whereas the other produced both diploid and triploid progeny. The results suggest that at least four different types of eggs can be formed in triploid females in this locality. In contrast, no progeny hatched when eggs of the normal female were fertilized with sperm or sperm-like cells obtained from triploid males. These gametes exhibited inactive or no motility after adding ambient water. They had larger head sizes than those of normal haploid sperm and had a short or no tail. Although their ploidy was triploid or hexaploid, a small number of haploid cells were detected in the semen by flow cytometry. Thus, triploid males were generally sterile, but they have a little potential for producing very few haploid sperm.     

Races and virulence of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense on local banana cultivars in Kenya

Virulence of 31 Kenyan isolates of Fusarium oxysporum obtained from bananas showing symptoms of Panama disease was tested against the differential banana cvs Bluggoe, Gros Michel, Dwarf Cavendish, and two other local cvs Muraru and Wang'ae. Seventeen isolates were assigned to either race 1 or race 2 of F. oxysporum f.sp. cubense (FOC). Race 4 was not apparent in this sample of 31 isolates from Kenya as none were pathogenic to cv. Cavendish, and no wilted Cavendish have been observed in field surveys in Kenya. Races could not be assigned to 12 isolates as they were virulent on more than one differential cultivar, and two were apparently not pathogenic. All isolates assigned to races 1 and 2 belonged to the VCG bridging complex 0124/5/8/20, but some other isolates belonging to this VCG complex could not be assigned to race. All five isolates assigned to VCG 01212 could not be assigned to known races. Considerable variability thus exists within FOC isolates within this region. Local cultivars of banana showed differential resistance to the pathogen. The interaction of cultivars and isolates on the level of disease was significant. Overall, cv. Wang'ae was the most susceptible to most of the isolates tested, regardless of their race, and could therefore be used as a reference cultivar in pathogenicity tests of isolates of FOC in the East African region. Of the cultivars tested that are widely grown on smallholder farms in Kenya, Muraru was the least susceptible.     

Unreduced gametes in diploid Medicago and their importance in alfalfa breeding

Summary In the genus Medicago, it is known that 2n gametes have been important in the evolution and breeding of cultivated alfalfa, which is a natural polysomic polyploid (2n=4x=32), however little is known on the frequency of male and female 2n gametes in diploid relatives of alfalfa. To obtain data on the frequency of 2n gametes, more than 12,000 2x–4x and 4x–2x crosses were made in 1982 at Madison (USA). Diploid parents in crosses were from four populations of M. coerulea, two of M. falcata and one diploid population of cultivated M. sativa which was derived by haploidy. The tetraploid seed parent in the crosses was a male-sterile M. sativa clone and vigorous tetraploid M. sativa plants were used as pollen parents. Each of 274 diploid plants was utilized both as male and as female. Of the 548 cross combinations, 266 crosses produced variable quantities of seeds which were sown in 1983 in a greenhouse at Perugia (Italy); the plants were subsequently space transplanted in the field in 1984. The identification of ploidy level of these genotypes was made on the basis of morphological characters, plant fertility, pollen stainability and chromosome counts.Of the 515 plants analyzed, the majority behaved as normal tetraploids indicating that many diploid plants produced 2n gametes. Diplogynous and diplandrous gamete production was not correlated with each other, which indicated a different genetic control of 2n sporogenesis in the 2 sexes. Only 4 F₁ triploid plants confirmed the presence of a very effective triploid block in alfalfa. In consequence, bilateral sexual polyploidization is a more likely alternative for the origin of tetraploid alfalfa than triploid bridges. The present study showed that it is possible to efficiently identify genotypes able to produce high frequencies of 2n gametes within natural populations of diploids Medicago that are useful in alfalfa breeding.Part of this study was conducted at the Agronomy Department, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis, USA, while one of us (F. Veronesi) was in receipt of financial assistance provided by the National Research Council of Italy; part was conducted at Centro di Studio per il Miglioramento Genetico delie Piante Foraggere, C.N.R., Perugia, Italy. The paper was presented at the Eucarpia Fodder Crops Section Meeting, Svalöv, Sweden, 16–19th September 1985     

Single cross alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) hybrids produced via 2n gametes and somatic chromosome doubling: experimental and theoretical comparisons

Summary The potential breeding value of 2n gametes from diploid alfalfa (2n = 2x = 16) was tested by comparing single cross alfalfa hybrids produced via 2n = 2x gametes from diploids versus n = 2x gametes from somatic-chromosome-doubled, tetraploid counterparts. Three diploid clones, designated 2x-(rprp), homozygous for the gene rp (conditions 2n gamete formation by a first division restitution mechanism) were colchicine-doubled to produce their tetraploid counterparts, designated 4x-(SCD). These six clones were crossed as males to the same cytoplasmic male sterile clone. Yield comparisons of progeny from the six clones demonstrated a significant yield increase of the hybrid progeny from 2n = 2x gametes from the diploids over the hybrid progeny from n = 2x gametes from the chromosome doubled tetraploid counterparts. The yield gain ranged from a 12% increase to a 32% increase. Theoretical comparisons indicated the 2n = 2x gametes from diploids would have 12.5 to 50% more heterozygous loci, on average, than the n = 2x gametes derived from somatic doubling. These results confirm the importance of heterozygosity on alfalfa yield, and the results demonstrate that 2n gametes formed by first division restitution offer a unique method for producing highly heterotic alfalfa hybrids.     

Genome ancestry mosaics reveal multiple and cryptic contributors to cultivated banana

Hybridizations between closely related species commonly occur in the domestication process of many crops. Banana cultivars are derived from such hybridizations between species and subspecies of the Musa genus that have diverged in various tropical Southeast Asian regions and archipelagos. Among the diploid and triploid hybrids generated, those with seedless parthenocarpic fruits were selected by humans and thereafter dispersed through vegetative propagation. Musa acuminata subspecies contribute to most of these cultivars. We analyzed sequence data from 14 M. acuminata wild accessions and 10 M. acuminata‐based cultivars, including diploids and one triploid, to characterize the ancestral origins along their chromosomes. We used multivariate analysis and single nucleotide polymorphism clustering and identified five ancestral groups as contributors to these cultivars. Four of these corresponded to known M. acuminata subspecies. A fifth group, found only in cultivars, was defined based on the ‘Pisang Madu’ cultivar and represented two uncharacterized genetic pools. Diverse ancestral contributions along cultivar chromosomes were found, resulting in mosaics with at least three and up to five ancestries. The commercially important triploid Cavendish banana cultivar had contributions from at least one of the uncharacterized genetic pools and three known M. acuminata subspecies. Our results highlighted that cultivated banana origins are more complex than expected – involving multiple hybridization steps – and also that major wild banana ancestors have yet to be identified. This study revealed the extent to which admixture has framed the evolution and domestication of a crop plant.     

Molecular discrimination and phylogeographic patterns of clones of the parthenogenetic gecko Lepidodactylus lugubris in the Japanese Archipelago

Vertebrates usually reproduce sexually in which males and females contribute their offspring genome and produce genetically diverse offspring. However, some of them are asexual without genetic contribution from males. The nocturnal gecko, Lepidodactylus lugubris, is all females and reproduces parthenogenetically. This gecko is known to consist of diploid and triploid clones in the tropical and subtropical regions, which can be identified by their dorsal marking patterns, ploidy, and protein polymorphism. This gecko is also distributed in the southern parts of Japan, and several clones have been reported. In this study, we investigated the origins and genetic diversity of Japanese L. lugubris by clonal discrimination using microsatellite and mitochondrial DNA analyses. A total of 748 individuals were collected from 21 islands of five island groups (Ogasawara, Okinawa, Miyako, Yaeyama and Daito Islands) and 17 clones were distinguished genetically. Mitochondrial cyt b sequences of these clones suggested that they were all closely related and differentiated recently. Clonal diversity was much higher (14 clones) in the Daito Islands than in the other island groups in which only one or two clones coexisted. Judging from the dorsal marking patterns and ploidy known so far, six clones were cosmopolitan and may be colonized from the outside of Japan. However, other 11 clones were endemic to the Daito Islands and explained by possible hybridization between the one female diploid clone and one male diploid clone because other 9 clones were triploid and all had the combinations of polymorphic microsatellite alleles of these female and male diploid clones. Although the males have never been recorded in the Daito Islands, males might appear in the past. These findings contribute to understanding of clonal diversity and dynamics of asexually reproducing animals. If diploid parthenogenetic geckos can produce triploid clones by mating with the diploid males, clonal diversity would increase rapidly in a small island, and such newly produced triploid clones would expand widely.     

Contrasting reproductive strategies of triploid hybrid males in vertebrate mating systems

The scarcity of parthenogenetic vertebrates is often attributed to their ‘inferior’ mode of clonal reproduction, which restricts them to self‐reproduce their own genotype lineage and leaves little evolutionary potential with regard to speciation and evolution of sexual reproduction. Here, we show that for some taxa, such uniformity does not hold. Using hybridogenetic water frogs (Pelophylax esculentus) as a model system, we demonstrate that triploid hybrid males from two geographic regions exhibit very different reproductive modes. With an integrative data set combining field studies, crossing experiments, flow cytometry and microsatellite analyses, we found that triploid hybrids from Central Europe are rare, occur in male sex only and form diploid gametes of a single clonal lineage. In contrast, triploid hybrids from north‐western Europe are widespread, occur in both sexes and produce recombined haploid gametes. These differences translate into contrasting reproductive roles between regions. In Central Europe, triploid hybrid males sexually parasitize diploid hybrids and just perpetuate their own genotype – which is the usual pattern in parthenogens. In north‐western Europe, on the other hand, the triploid males are gamete donors for diploid hybrids, thereby stabilizing the mixed 2n‐3n hybrid populations. By demonstrating these contrasting roles in male reproduction, we draw attention to a new significant evolutionary potential for animals with nonsexual reproduction, namely reproductive plasticity.     

Inheritance of seed colour in turnip rape (Brassica campestris L.)

Summary A high gene frequency for ps (parallel spindles) is expected in cultivated tetraploid potatoes, S. tuberosum Group Tuberosum, if 2n pollen produced by ancestral diploid plants which were psps was involved in the origin and evolution of the potato. Fifty-six North American cultivars (varieties and advanced selections) were pollinated by diploid clones, either W 5295.7 or W 5337.3 which are homozygous recessive for ps. The segregation ratios in regard to 2n pollen production in derived tetraploid progenies, from 4x×2x crosses, reveal the genotype of ps in the cultivars. Microsporogenesis of 2n pollen producing 4x progeny was observed to avoid an overestimation of the frequency of 2n pollen producing plants due to mechanisms other than parallel spindles. More than 50% of the 56 cultivars are simplex (Pspspsps), since in each of these cultivars about 50% of their progeny produced 2n pollen. The ps gene frequency in the 56 cultivars was estimated as high as 0.69. The high frequency of ps in the tetraploid cultivars clearly supports the hypothesis that 2n pollen produced by plants homozygous recessive for ps have been involved in the origin of cultivated tetraploid potatoes, since a higher frequency of ps in the tetraploid than in the ancestral diploid population can be expected from sexual polyploidization but not from somatic doubling. The importance of meiotic mutants such as ps for the successful evolution of polysomic polyploids is emphasized.     

Triploid females and diploid males: underreported phenomena in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Polistes</Emphasis> wasps?

Summary In hymenopteran species, males are usually haploid and females diploid. However, in species that have complementary sex determination (CSD), diploid males arise when a female produces offspring that are homozygous at the sex-determining locus. Although diploid males are often sterile, in some species they have been shown to produce diploid sperm, thus producing triploid daughters if they mate successfully. Diploid males have been observed in very few species of social wasps, and we know of no published reports of triploid females. In this paper, we review the existing literature on diploid males and triploid females in the Hymenoptera, and report the observation of triploid females in three species of Polistes paper wasps. Although polyploid offspring may be produced parthenogenetically, the more likely scenario is that Polistes wasps have CSD and produce diploid males via homozygosity at the sex-determining locus. Therefore, female triploidy indicates that diploid males do exist in Polistes species where they are presumed to be absent, and are likely to be even more frequent among species that have experienced a genetic bottleneck. We conclude by cautioning against the assumption of a selective advantage to the production of early males, and by discussing the implications of male diploidy and female triploidy for measurement of sex ratio investment and assumptions of reproductive skew theory.Received 5 December 2003; revised 20 March 2004; accepted 19 April 2004.     

GENETICAL POPULATION STRUCTURE IN PLANTS: GENE FLOW BETWEEN DIPLOID SEXUAL AND TRIPLOID ASEXUAL DANDELIONS (TARAXACUM SECTION RUDERALIA)

Levels and distribution of genetic variation were studied in central and western European populations of Taraxacum section Ruderalia containing differing mixtures of sexual diploid and asexual triploid plants. All sexual populations were panmictic with their variation partitioned mainly among populations. Genotypic diversity in triploid samples was very high with few clones widespread and many clones restricted to one or a few populations. Extensive amounts of gene (pollen) flow between the diploid and triploid components of a population were inferred from the following data: (1) the two ploidy levels share all major allozyme polymorphisms; (2) the intrapopulational homogeneity in genic variation between diploids and triploids contrasts strongly with the geographic differentiation at each ploidy level separately; (3) population-unique alleles simultaneously occur at the two ploidy levels; (4) not only sexuals but also asexuals generally simulate Hardy-Weinberg expectations. Most likely, intrapopulational gene exchange occurs bidirectionally by mechanisms such as reductional pollen meiosis in apomictic plants, facultative apomixis, and formation of unreduced gametes in sexuals. Thus, diploid and triploid Taraxacum section Ruderalia are less genetically isolated than has previously been supposed and probably form a cohesive evolutionary unit with the level at which gene pools are shared differing by population.     

STABLE DIPLOIDS FROM INTRAGROUP ZYGOSPORES OF CLOSTERIUM EHRENBERGII MENEGH. (CONJUGATOPHYCEAE)1

Two pairs of stable diploid clones were obtained as aberrant forms among F₁ progeny of an intragroup (intraspecific) cross between R-11-4 (mating type +) and M-16-4b (mating type -) of Group A of Closterium ehrenbergii Menegh. Each pair was derived from the two germination products of a single zygospore, and both clones were mating type minus. The cell size range of these four diploid minus clones was considerably above that of normal (haploid) Group A clones. Chromosome counts at the second meiotic metaphase indicated that these clones were diploid with approximately 200 chromosomes, which was double the number for normal Group A clones. Diploid minus clones conjugated normally with any haploid Group A plus clones, and yielded many triploid zygospores. Triploid zygospores germinated normally as did intragroup diploid zygospores. In metaphase I preparations, only bivalents were observed except on a few occasions where some uni- and multivalents were also detected. Viability of F₁ progeny from triploid zygospores (55–74%) was somewhat lower than from diploid zygospores of Japanese Group A populations (65–90%), but higher than intergroup (interspecific) hybrid zygospores from Groups A, B and H (0–12%). In addition to lower viability, some F₁ progeny from triploid zygospores exhibited slow vegetative growth. Almost all pairs of F₁ clones from single triploid zygospores were of opposite mating type, similar to normal diploid zygospores of the intragroup cross. Morphological variability of F₁ progeny of triploid zygospores was great. The apparently normal meiosis of triploid zygospores and the high viability of F₁ progeny suggested that the genome of Group A contains several sets of chromosome complements with mechanisms by which bivalents are regularly formed in the first meiotic division.     

三倍体丹参杂交种的花粉形态研究

三倍体丹参是以二倍体丹参为父本、人工染色体加倍的四倍体白花丹参为母本杂交选育的杂交种。为深入了解三倍体丹参花粉的特性,以及为三倍体种质利用提供孢粉学依据,该文以二倍体丹参为对照,研究了三倍体丹参杂交种花粉的形态变异规律。利用光学显微镜和扫描电镜对二倍体和三倍体丹参的花粉萌发沟、外壁纹饰、花粉粒形状等特征进行了显微和超微形态观察,综合进行了花粉形态差异比较,并对花粉大小和形状数据进行了差异显著性分析和正态检验。结果表明:(1)二倍体丹参为6沟花粉,三倍体花粉萌发沟有6沟和8沟两种类型,沟内疣状颗粒分布不匀,出现畸形萌发沟。(2)二倍体和三倍体花粉外壁均为网状雕纹。二倍体花粉网眼内具多个多边形穿孔,穿孔大; 6沟和8沟两种类型的三倍体花粉网眼无穿孔或仅有几个小穿孔,6沟和8沟花粉的外壁雕纹相同。(3)三倍体花粉的极轴长(P)和赤道宽(E)均值显著小于二倍体花粉,花粉大小呈偏正态分布,P*E的差异系数大于二倍体花粉,且有极值存在。三倍体和二倍体丹参的萌发沟和雕纹存在差异,而花粉形状差异不显著。综上结果表明三倍体丹参花粉在倍性效应和杂合性的双重影响下发生了形态变异,且有多种形态变化。     

Inter-embryo competition in the progeny of autotriploid Aloineae (Liliaceae)

In reciprocal crosses between diploid and triploid Aloineae the progeny are largely diploid or diploid plus one or two chromosomes, but in reciprocal crosses between triploids and tetraploids they are tetraploid or nearly so. Thus the triploids contribute circa haploid gametes to the progeny when crossed with diploids but circa diploid gametes when crossed with tetraploids. These results are compared with those of a number of earlier workers. It is concluded that the bias in the frequency of progeny types towards diploidy or tetraploidy, depending on the ploidy level of the plant which is crossed with the triploid, is caused by inter-embryo competition. Those embryos with an endosperm/embryo factor of 1.5, the value found in normal diploid/diploid crosses having triploid endosperms, are selected in preference to those with factors higher or lower than 1.5.Inter-gamete competition also occurs among the euploid and aneuploid gametes produced by the triploids. This is more pronounced on the male side, because the degree of survival of aneuploid pollen from the triploids into the next generation is much lower than that of aneuploid egg nuclei.Non-reduction in the triploids gives rise to occasional pentaploid progeny in crosses with tetraploids, but it is more probable that in diploid/triploid crosses tetraploid progeny are the products of non-reduction in the diploid.     

Distribution and reproductive capacity of natural triploid individuals and occurrence of unreduced eggs as a cause of polyploidization in the loach,Misgurnus anguillicaudatus

Loaches (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus) were collected from 35 localities in Japan and assayed by flow cytometry to determine ploidy status. No tetraploids were found, with samples from 33 localities having no or few (1.2–3.2%) triploids. Samples collected from Ichinomiya Town, Aichi Prefecture, showed a relatively high rate of triploidy (7.7%). Samples collected from a fish farm in Hirokami Village, Niigata Prefecture, also showed high proportions of triploids (2.0–15.8%), these triploid males being sterile, but the females producing both large-sized triploid and small-sized haploid eggs. Such eggs developed bisexually rather than gynogenetically, giving rise to viable tetraploid and diploid offspring after normal fertilization. Of eight diploid females obtained from the same locality, one produced a high incidence of viable diploid gynogens (55%) after gynogenetic induction by fertilization with UV-irradiated spermatozoa. These observations indicated the presence of diploid fish which produced both diploid and haploid eggs. Thus, triploid and diploid individuals were also produced after fertilization with haploid spermatozoa. These results suggested that the occurrence of such unreduced eggs may be a cause of natural polyploidization in this species.     

Production and viability of unreduced gametes in triploid interspecific blueberry hybrids

Summary Three triploid (2n=3x=36) blueberry hybrids were obtained by hand-pollinating approximately 7,000 flowers of tetraploid highbush blueberry cultivars (based on Vaccinium corymbosum L.) with pollen from the diploid species V. elliottii Chapm. Meiotic analysis of these triploids revealed trivalents, bivalents and univalents in all metaphase I cells, with lagging chromosomes evident at anaphase I. Pollen of the three triploids was mostly aborted and did not stain with acetocarmine. However, the three triploids did produce from 0.9%–1.3% giant pollen grains that stained with acetocarmine and were present as monads, dyads or triads, rather than the normal tetrads. Pollination of 10,853 flowers of hexaploid V. ashei Reade cultivars with pollen from the triploids produced 266 berries, which averaged fewer than two fully-developed seeds per berry. One triploid clone showed partial female fertility when crossed to hexaploids, self-pollinated, or intercrossed with other triploids. Ploidy levels of the resulting hybrids were determined.Florida Agricultural Experiment Station Journal Series No. 8672