Miscanthus: genetic diversity and a method of ploidy variability identification using fluorescent cytophotometry

Abstract

Aim. Due to the introduction of the Miscanthus species, attributed to the European gene pool, in Ukraine, it is necessary to develop methods for the determination of genome ploidy and adjust them to the foreign methods in order to ensure high purity of the planting material, to study genetic diversity, to produce new polyploid lines and select alternative Miscanthus × giganteus clones (3x). Methods. Cytological, biotechnological, fl uores- cence cytophotometry, fi eld, laboratory. Results. Domestic diploid millet (Panicum) variety of Veselopodilska Research Breeding Station and grain sorghum (Sorghum) variety Dniprovsky, whose number of chromosomes was previously investigated, served as standard genotypes for the ploidy identifi cation with Partec ploidy analyser (Germany). Using the technique, various species of miscanthus, namely Miscanthus × giganteus (3x), Miscanthus sinensis (2x), and Miscanthus saccharifl orus (2x) were selected and multiplied by clones. The heterogeneity of the Miscanthus × giganteus (3x) population of the two ecotypes was determined based on the level of genome ploidy in the vegetative reproduction of rhizomes which originated from Poland and Austria. Conclusions. Due to the complexity of cytological research, the need to involve the representatives of the Miscanthus genus in the development of bioenergy in Ukraine, and to differentiate them both in vivo and in vitro conditions to assimilate the European gene pool, a new methodology for identifi cation of plant material of different miscanthus species using the method of fl uorescence cytophotometry is presented. The ploidy of commercial foreign samples of miscanthus, introduced in the network of research and selection stations of the Institute of Bioenergy Crops and Sugar Beets of NAAS, was identifi ed.