New Zealand Journal of Botany abstracts

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Evidence for apomictic seed formation in Coprosma waima (Rubiaceae)

P. B. Heenan
M. I. Dawson

Landcare Research
P.O. Box 69
Lincoln 8152, New Zealand

R. A. Bicknell

Crop & Food Research
Private Bag 4704
Christchurch, New Zealand

Abstract   Facultative autonomous apomictic seed formation has been identified in Coprosma waima by progeny tests, flow cytometry, and DNA Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism profiles. An isolated, cultivated, female plant of C. waima produced seeds, from which were raised female C. waima plants. Flow cytometry of seeds collected from these female plants had an embryo to endosperm ploidy ratio of 2:4. This is consistent with parthenogenetic embryo development from a single unreduced egg nucleus, and autonomous endosperm development from two unreduced polar nuclei. DNA Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism profiles of the maternal plant and three female progeny were identical, indicating they were genetically homologous. Seeds from wild plants of C. waima have an embryo to endosperm ploidy ratio of 2:3, consistent with sexual reproduction. We also present evidence of apomictic seed formation in C. parviflora, C. robusta, and C. serrulata.

Keywords   Rubiaceae; Coprosma; C. parviflora; C. robusta; C. serrulata; C. waima; apomixis; flow cytometry; Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms; New Zealand flora

B02016 Received 28 February 2002; accepted 20 May 2002; published 11 September 2002
New Zealand Journal of Botany, 2002, Vol. 40: 347-355
0028-825X/02/4003-0347 $7.00 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2002

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