Estimation of introgression rate of a fescue isozymic marker into tetraploid Italian ryegrass at early generations of backcross

The potential for introgression of Festuca glaucescens into tetraploid ryegrass Lolium multiflorum was assessed using a simplex homeoallele at the phosphoglucoisomerase isoenzyme locus (Pgi-2). Overall, the F. glaucescens species-specific marker was found to be transmitted into Italian ryegrass at a rate close to 0.5 suggesting a high rate of homeologous pairing in BC1 and of intergeneric recombination in BC2. Significant variations in transmission rate among progenies in advanced generations indicated that recombination could result from various chromosome rearrangements possibly involving more than one fescue chromosome with some selection against duplex-like introgressed genotypes. Hence, introgressing F. glaucescens genes into tetraploid ryegrass appeared as further procedure to exploit versatility in fescue species, mostly restricted so far to introgression from F. arundinacea or F. pratensis into diploid ryegrass. Implications in terms of breeding strategy and marker-assisted selection are briefly discussed in respect to the genetic control of traits of interest to be introgressed.