Assessment of Gene Flow Between Gossypium hirsutum and G. herbaceum : Evidence of Unreduced Gametes in the Diploid Progenitor

• Published in: G3 : genes - genomes - genetics Vol. 7; no. 7; pp. 2185 - 2193
• Main Authors: Montes, E, Coriton, O, Eber, F, Huteau, V, Lacape, J M, Reinhardt, C, Marais, D, Hofs, J L, Chèvre, A M, Pannetier, C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Genetics Society of America 01-07-2017; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Chemical and Process Engineering; Chimera - genetics; Diploidy; DNA, Plant - genetics; Engineering Sciences; Environmental Sciences; Food engineering; Gene Flow; Genome, Plant; Germ Cells, Plant; Gossypium - genetics; Gossypium herbaceum; Gossypium hirsutum; Investigations; Life Sciences; natural hybridization; South Africa; unreduced gamete; Vegetal Biology; Gene flow; Gossypium hirsutum; Gossypium herbaceum; unreduced gamete; natural hybridization
• ISSN: 2160-1836; 2160-1836
• DOI: 10.1534/g3.117.041509

In the framework of a gene flow assessment, we investigated the natural hybridization rate between
(AADD genome) and
(AA genome). The latter species, a diploid progenitor of
, is spontaneously present in South Africa. Reciprocal crosses were performed without emasculation between
and
Neither examination of the morphological characteristics nor flow cytometry analysis of the 335 plants resulting from the
×
cross showed any hybrid features. Of the 148 plants produced from the
×
cross, three showed a hybrid phenotype, and their hybrid status was confirmed by SSR markers. Analysis of DNA content by flow cytometry and morphological traits clearly showed that two of these plants were triploid (AAD). The third plant had a flow cytometry DNA content slightly higher than
In addition, its morphological characteristics (plant architecture, presence and size of petal spots, leaf shape) led us to conclude that this plant was AAAD thus resulting from fertilization with an unreduced AA gamete of the female
parent. Fluorescent
Hybridization (FISH) and meiotic behavior confirmed this hypothesis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first description of such gametes in
, and it opens new avenues in breeding programs. Furthermore, this plant material could provide a useful tool for studying the expression of genes duplicated in the A and D cotton genome.