Genetic Diversity and Conservation of F1 Hybrids
in Genebanks using Brussels sprouts as a model
Introduction
• Early F1 hybrid varieties of Brussels sprouts (released in the
early 1980s in the UK) offered higher vigour, productivity and
uniformity than open-pollinated varieties.
• They represent a source of useful genetic variation in a form
which can be more rapidly incorporated into new elite varieties
• Parental lines for early F1 varieties are often unavailable, making
it difficult to regenerate fresh seed to ensure conservation in
genebanks
• This project assesses genetic variation in open pollinated and F1
hybrid UK Brussels sprouts and tests three regeneration
protocols to see which offered the best balance between
conservation of genetic diversity and resources required.
Genetic Diversity in UK Brussels Sprouts Varieties
32 open pollinated (OP) and 25 F1 Hybrid varieties were
tested with 9 microsatellite markers. F1 hybrids were almost
as diverse as open pollinated types (Table below).
F1 Hybrid
OP
Figure 1. Regeneration was carried out in isolation cages either
using flies as pollinators or pollinating buds by hand
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
-0.5
-0.4
-0.3
-0.2
-0.1
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
-0.1
-0.2
-0.3
-0.4
-0.5
Argosy F1
Evesham Special
Gleneagles F1
Plutar F1
Figure 2. 3 F1 hybrid s and 1 OP accession were selected for the
regeneration treatments based on microsatellite data – this PCO
plot indicates the range of diversity present in the 4 accessions
This work was funded by
Defra under project IF0189
0.5
Total alleles
52
54
Diversity (He)
0.27
0.33
Regeneration treatments
1.
Mass pollination of 45 plants
2.
Bud pollination of 22 plants
3.
Mass pollination of each of 22 plants of two F1
hybrid accessions
4.
Control – mass pollination of open pollinated
accession
Ongoing work
Statistical modelling is being carried out on the
microsatellite data, to understand how genetic
diversity is affected by the different treatments and
changes across generations. A field trial is currently
under way to look at morphological changes
between generations.
Warwick Crop Centre
www.warwick.ac.uk/go/wcc