M. Abedinia et al., DISTRIBUTION AND PHYLOGENY OF POTAMOPHILA-PARVIFLORA RBR A WILD RELATIVE OF RICE FROM EASTERN AUSTRALIA, Genetic resources and crop evolution, 45(5), 1998, pp. 399-406
Potamophila parviflora is a wild relative of rice from Eastern Austral
ia. The species was found in the Richmond, Clarence, Macleay and Hasti
ngs River systems of northern New South Wales. Existing populations ha
d wider leaves (10-15 mM) than those previously reported (4-6 mM). Thi
s species and North American wild rice, Zizania palustris were investi
gated as genetic resource for rice improvement. Both species, Potamoph
ila, and Zizania, occur in colder climates than rice (Oryza sativa). S
equencing of the ITS1 of the ribosomal genes of these two species indi
cated that Zizania and Potamophila were more closely related to each o
ther than either was to Oryza sativa. Potamophila has a similar number
of chromosomes (n=12) and a greater sequence homology to rice and may
thus be a better source of useful genes for rice improvement.