An apomictic grass called Cenchrus ciliaris L. mostly reproduces without seeds, making it hard to improve genetically. Researchers crossed a sexual buffelgrass with apomictic plants to create a new generation with different reproduction modes. They found a 3:1 ratio of apomictic to sexual plants in the first generation, and a 1:2:1 ratio in the second generation. Some new plants had good traits. They used special markers to tell apart apomictic from sexual plants, but couldn't distinguish between sexual and facultative ones. This marker method could help breed better traits into apomictic grass through hybridization.