Seed characteristic variations and genetic structure of wild Zizania latifolia along a latitudinal gradient in China: implications for neo-domestication as a grain crop.

ABSTRACT: Crop wild relatives are not only important genetic resources for crop improvement, but also domestication candidates for selecting new crops. As a close relative of American wild rice Zizania palustris, Z. latifolia is a perennial aquatic grass widely distributed in China. Although Z. latifolia has been domesticated and cultivated as an aquatic vegetable for >1000 years, a neo-domestication for grain production needs to be soundly evaluated. In this study, we investigated the seed characteristic variations and genetic structure of 15 Z. latifolia wild populations along a latitudinal gradient in China. Our results showed that Z. latifolia tended to produce relatively larger seeds with lower moisture content and lower investments in seed pericarp at lower l

SUBMITTER: Zhao Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6304442 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature