Transfer of C4 Photosynthetic Characters through Hybridization of Flaveria Species

Abstract

Transfer of C(4) photosynthetic traits was studied through hybridization of Flaveria trinervia (Spreng.) Mohr (C(4)) and Flaveria brownii A.M. Powell (C(4)-like) with Flaveria linearis Lag. (C(3)-C(4)) and the C(3) species Flaveria pringlei Gandoger (C(3)). Fertility was low, based on irregular chromosome pairing and low pollen stainability, except in F. brownii x F. linearis which had bivalent pairing and 76% stainable pollen. Hybrids had apparent photosynthesis values of 71 to 148% of the midparental means, while the CO(2) compensation concentration was similar to the C(4) or C(4)-like parent, except in hybrids having the C(3) species F. pringlei as a parent. Inhibition of apparent photosynthesis by O(2), and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase and NADP-malic enzyme activities and subunit levels in the hybrids were closer to the C(3) or C(3)-C(4) parent. The species F. brownii and F. trinervia were equal in their capacity to transfer reduced O(2) inhibition of AP and CO(2) compensation concentration values to hybrids with F. linearis (C(3)-C(4)), although hybrids with F. trinervia had higher PEPC activity. The O(2) inhibition of AP was correlated with the logarithm of activities of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (r = -0.95) and NADP-malic enzyme (r = -0.87). These results confirm that C(4) traits can be transferred by hybridization of C(3)-C(4) and C(4) or C(4)-like species, with a higher degree of C(4) photosynthesis than exists in C(3)-C(4) species, and at least in F. brownii x F. linearis, fertile progeny are obtained.