Monday, November 13, 2006
70-6

A Genetic Linkage Map Between Annual and Perennial Poa annua L.

Jonathan La Mantia, The Pennsylvania State University, 116 ASI Building, University Park, PA 16802, Scott Warnke, USDA ARS, 10300 Baltimore Ave., Building 010-A, Beltsville, MD 20705, and David Huff, Penn State University, 116 ASI bldg, University Park, PA 16802.

The earliest genetic experiments on Poa annua L. took place in the 1930s. Since then, there has been extensive speculation about the genomic make up and phenotypic variation within the species, annual bluegrass. Previously, we have partition the phenotypic variation into wild, weedy annual types, short-lived turf types and long-lived greens types.  Preliminary results of linkage analysis will be presented from an AFLP genetic map constructed on 190 F2 progeny from an annual type (Lemon House) and a greens type (98-2-26 Type B) hybridization. AFLP markers were scored with Genographer computer software and the linkage analysis was performed with MAPMAKER. Morphological polymorphisms were also scored and mapped including; inflorescence length, inflorescence branching complexity, seed head number, leaf area index and annuality.  The genetic map will serve as a platform for molecular analysis of disease resistance, gibberellic acid biosynthesis, and the genomic instability of P. annua.