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Molecular, cytological and morpho-agronomical characterization of hexaploid somatic hybrids in Medicago

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Abstract

Somatic hybrid plants produced by protoplast fusion between tetraploid Medicago sativa (2n= 4x=32) and the diploid species Medicago coerulea (2n= 2x=16) have been RFLP fingerprinted to establish their nuclear composition. Although all of the chromosomes were present, molecular analysis revealed an incomplete incorporation of the alleles of the diploid parent in the fusion products. In the polycross progeny the alleles of both parents segregated in a Mendelian mode. Cytological observations indicated that in the somatic hybrid population minor abnormalities are present; these are restricted mainly to the formation of univalents and lagging chromosomes. Meiosis appeared to be more stable than has been previously reported in the hexaploids of alfalfa. The somatic hybrids grown in the field had a rather vigorous aspect, particularly with respect to the vegetative organs. Forage yield was comparable to that of thmore productive parent. The results are discussed with a view to utilizing the somatic hybrids as starting material for breeding alfalfa at the hexaploid level.

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Author notes

  1. M. E. Caceres

    Present address: Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuanias, 5000, Cordoba, Argentina

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Istituto di Ricerche sul Miglioramento Genetico delle Piante Foraggere del C.N.R., Via della Madonna Alta, 130 06128, Perugia, Italy

    F. Pupilli, S. Businelli, M. E. Caceres, F. Damiani & S. Arcioni

Authors
  1. F. Pupilli
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  2. S. Businelli
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  3. M. E. Caceres
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  4. F. Damiani
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  5. S. Arcioni
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Additional information

Communicated by G. Wenzel

This paper was supported by the National Research Council of Italy, Special Project RAISA, Sub-project No.2 paper No. 1911

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Pupilli, F., Businelli, S., Caceres, M.E. et al. Molecular, cytological and morpho-agronomical characterization of hexaploid somatic hybrids in Medicago . Theoret. Appl. Genetics 90, 347–355 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00221976

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00221976

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