Lolium multiflorum line inducing genome loss

Abstract

Dihaploid homozygous Fescue species may be produced by interspecific hybridization of Fescue with novel ryegrass, Lolium multiflorum, lines, that induce genome loss. Plants that are dihaploid homozygous Lolium and amphidiploids are also produced.

1 - 49 . (canceled) 
     
     
         50 . A  Lolium multiflorum  diploid plant or parts thereof which segregates for levels of pollen sterility and where, upon using the  Lolium  as the maternal parent in an interspecific hybridization with a  Festuca  species being utilized as the paternal parent, confers to the resultant sterile F1 interspecific hybrids the ability to produce some seed via parthenogenesis that also possess a viable embryo, wherein said seeds which possess a viable embryo, may develop into F2 generation plants, wherein at least some of said F2 generation plants are dihaploid homozygous  Festuca  species comprising a karyotype exhibiting a balanced genome of  Festuca  chromosomes equivalent to the chromosome number of said  Festuca  paternal parent and no  Lolium  genomic chromosomes. 
     
     
         51 . The  Lolium multiflorum  diploid plant or parts thereof of  claim 50 , wherein at least some of said F2 generation plants are dihaploid homozygous  Festuca  species comprising a karyotype of 42  Festuca  chromosomes when said  Festuca  species paternal parent is Tall  Fescue, Festuca arundinaceae.    
     
     
         52 . Seed of said  Lolium multiflorum  diploid plant of  claim 50 . 
     
     
         53 . An ovule of said  Lolium multiflorum  diploid plant of  claim 50 . 
     
     
         54 . A tissue culture of regenerable cells of said  Lolium multiflorum  diploid plant of  claim 50 . 
     
     
         55 . The progeny and parts thereof of said novel  Lolium multiflorum  diploid plant and parts thereof of  claim 50 , wherein said progeny segregates for levels of pollen sterility, and wherein upon using said progeny as the maternal parent in an interspecific hybridization with a  Festuca  species, being utilized as the paternal parent, confers to the resultant sterile F1 interspecific hybrids the ability to produce some seed via parthenogenesis that also possess a viable embryo, and wherein said seeds which possess a viable embryo may develop into F2 generation plants, at least some of which are dihaploid homozygous  Festuca  species comprising a karyotype exhibiting a balanced genome of  Festuca  chromosomes equivalent to the chromosome number of said  Festuca  paternal parent and no  Lolium  genomic chromosomes. 
     
     
         56 . The  Lolium multiflorum  diploid plant or parts thereof of  claim 50 , wherein at least some of said F2 generation plants are dihaploid homozygous  Festuca  species comprising a karyotype of 14  Festuca  chromosomes when said  Festuca  species paternal parent is Meadow  Fescue, Festuca pratensis.