Molecular genetic discrimination of Buffel grass genotypes and F1 hybrids for breeding purposes using amplified fragment length polymorphism analyses

Abstract

AbstractBuffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris L.) is an apomictic species that is widely adapted to arid and semi‐arid, tropical and warm climates. Six apomictic cultivars used as male parents, one sexual line used as the female parents and 15 putative F1 genotypes were studied using the amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) technique for their evaluation and recognition. The NTSYS programme and Jaccard's Index were used to establish the genetic similarity; and a phenogram was constructed. A total of 152 bands was recorded. Three primer combinations were sufficient to identify the genotypes. The maximum proportion of polymorphisms was 0·835, and 0·510 of the polymorphisms consisted in individual bands that strictly diagnosed unique genotypes. Texas 4464 and Americana cultivars were the most different from the sexual line, indicating that they might be the best genotypes for future crossing. Two hybrids were identified among F1 material to demonstrate the usefulness of the AFLP technique in characterizing genotypes and recognizing hybrids in Buffel grass for breeding purposes.