Inheritance of three marker characters in Medicago truncatula Gaertn. (M. tribuloides Desr.)

Abstract

The inheritance has been studied of three morphological characters which could be used as markers in the "pure seed" certification of commercial varieties of barrel medic, M. truncatula Gaertn.

The leaf anthocyanin pigmentation pattern, as found in accession No. 2829, and the clockwise form of pod coiling characterizing accession No. 3309, are determined by single dominant genes. The spineless character of the pod of accession No. 2822 is due to a recessive gene. The simple inheritance of these characters and the complete penetrance of the genes concerned indicate that the anthocyanin marker and the spineless pod could be used for certification. Since the clockwise-anticlockwise pattern of coiling occurs in both forms in commercial barrel medic varieties, it is likely to be useful only as a marker in genetic studies.

Details are given of a satisfactory procedure developed for crossing medic varieties