Chapter 5 Genetic Analysis of Apomixis - cimmyt

Applicallo.,.f MoItc.Ia, Ge••10 i. Apomixi1 R....,do 93ConclusionsOur understanding of the genetics of apomixisis changing rapidly, from the idea that a simplegenetic system might control the wholedevelopmental process, to a more integratedconception and sophisticated models. Part ofthat evolution stems from the application ofmolecular genetic technologies to the study ofapomixis. Still, many important questions andproblems remain unresolved; there is noshortage of challenges in the field of apomixisresearch. Many serious research efforts mayonly serve as preliminary and somewhatacademic steps toward the long-term goal ofintroducing apomixis into farmers' fields. Toreach the distant goal of deployment tofarmers, future research should include anassessment of the social and economic impactof apomixis, and a definition of adequatedeployment strategies. These critical elementswill strongly influence the biological aspectsof apomixis research and what "kind" ofapomixis should be targeted for developmentand deployment.ReferencesAhn, S.N., and S.D. Tanksley. 1993.Comparative linkage maps of the rice andmaize genomes. Prac Natl Acad Sci (USA)90: 7980-84.Asker, S., and l. Jerling. 1992. Apomixis inPlants. Boco Raton, Florida: CRC Press.Bennetzen, J.L., and M. Freeling. 1993. Grassesas a single genetic system: genomecompasilion, collinearity and compo~bility.Trends in Genetics 9:259-61.Bicknell, R.A., N.K. Borstk, and A.M. Koltunow.2000. Monogenic inherilance of apomixisin two Hieracium species with distinddevelopmental me