Identification of apomixis in the Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) using auxin test

Abstract

The effect of auxin treatment on the formation of apomictic – endospermless grains in <em>Poa pratensis </em>was investigated in the study. Four Polish cultivars: Skiz, Eska 46, Alicja, Ani as well as six breeding lines: POB 13, SK-W-33, SKW-15, SKW-35A, SK-W-35A and SK-W-35B were tested by embryological methods to reveal the reproduction pathway in greenhouse and field conditions. The obtained results showed that four genotypes, i.e. Alicja, Ani, Eska 46 and SK-W-35B are facultative apomictic and the other have formed seeds only on the apomictic way. In facultative apomicts it was found that in many cases both endospermless ovules containing embryo sacs with embryos or embryo sacs with well developed endosperm were formed. In the case of apomictic genotypes only endospermless seeds were observed.