Polyploidy in Stokes Aster (Stokesia laevis)

Abstract

Segregation analysis of two different F2 families of stokes aster created by hybridizing two blue-flowered cultivars [`Peaches Pick' (PE) and `Omega Skyrocket' (OSR)] with the yellow-flowered cultivar `Mary Gregory' (MG) gave disparate results. The F2 progeny of PE × MG segregated in the expected 3:1 (blue:yellow) ratio. In contrast, all 782 progeny from the MG × OSR F2 family were blue-flowered. Flow cytometric analysis of the parents and F1 hybrids was conducted to determine if ploidy differences existed among the parents, as such differences could account for aberrant segregation behavior in the MG × OSR F2 family. Peak ratios suggested that MG and PE were diploid, OSR was tetraploid, and F1 hybrids of MG × OSR were triploid. Chromosome counts from root tip squashes confirmed that MG and PE were diploid (2n= 2x= 14), OSR was tetraploid (2n= 4x= 28), and F1 hybrid progeny of MG × OSR were triploid (2n= 3x= 21). Karyotype analysis also confirmed these results. We propose that the lack of recovery of yellow-flowered progeny in the MG × OSR F2 family is due to differences in parental chromosome number. These results document the first report of polyploidy in stokes aster, and suggest the absence of a triploid block in this species.