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Inheritance of Pod Type, Stem Color, and Dwarf Growth Habit in Medicago polymorpha

Agriculture Dep., Dordt College, Sioux Center, IA 51250
8307 Miner Lane, Squirrel Lake, Minocqua, WI 5454

^* Corresponding author (rdehaan{at}dordt.edu).

Identification of marker traits in annual Medicago species (medics) would assist plant breeders in cultivar development. The objective of this research was to determine the inheritance of pod type, stem color, and dwarf growth habit in Medicago polymorpha L., a diploid species. Progeny from each of three crosses were evaluated in the F₁, F₂, and F₃ generations. Results indicate that pod type was controlled by a single gene with a dominant allele for spiny pods. We propose the gene symbol Sp₁ for the pod type trait. Stem color also was controlled by a single gene, with a dominant allele for red stems. We propose Rs₁ as the gene symbol for this trait. The dwarf trait was not present in the parents or the F₁ generation, but was observed in the F₂ generation of one of the crosses. Dwarf plants had much shorter stems, internodes, and leaf petioles than normal plants, and they also had smaller, puckered leaves. The trait appeared to be controlled by two genes with partial recessive epistasis. We propose the gene symbols Dw_l and Dw₂ for this trait. Results indicated that the genes for pod type and stem color segregated independently and were not linked.

Received for publication January 12, 1998.