The inheritance of marker genes in Medicago truncatula Gaertn. II. Their suitability for the use in a plant breeding programme

Abstract

In the F₂ generation of crosses between selected strains of Medicago truncatula Gaertn. there was independent segregation of the genes for the marker characters "red leaf", "smooth pod", and "clockwise-anticlockwise coiling pattern of the pod". A new marker, "erect type" of vegetative development, is a recessive character which is not linked to the "red leaf" gene.

The absence of linkage greatly enhances the value of these characters as strain markers.