Leveraging High Throughput Sequencing For Fine Fescue (Festuca Spp.) Breeding And Genetics

Abstract

Fine fescues (Festuca L., Poaceae) are turfgrass species that perform well in low-input environments. Improvement of these grass species through breeding and genetics have been limited due to the difficulty of species identification and lack of genomic resources. The objectives of this dissertation were to develop an improved method for fine fescue species identification, generate the first reference transcriptome for hard fescue, and use the reference transcriptome for transcriptome studies. In my first project, I used flow cytometry, chloroplast genome sequencing, and molecular marker development to provide new fine fescue identification methodology. Next, I used flow cytometry to characterize ploidy level in the USDA F. ovina collection. My third project used PacBio Isoform sequencing to develop the reference transcriptome using four tissue types for hard fescue; by using a phylotranscriptomic approach, the reference transcriptome provided information of the allopolyploid origin of the hexaploid species. Finally, the reference transcriptome was used to study how hard fescue responded to propiconazole fungicide application; in addition, untargeted metabolomics was used to study changes in metabolites caused by fungicide application. This dissertation developed methods for fine fescue by a combination use of flow cytometry and molecular markers. Methods and genomics resources developed in this dissertation will benefit fine fescue breeding and genetics programs.