Inheritance of Seed and Seedling Color in Sweetclover

Authors

H. J. Gorz
James E. Specht, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Francis A. Haskins, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

4-1975

Comments

Published in CROP SCIENCE, VOL. 15, MARCH-APRIL 1975.

Abstract

Eight seed colors, conditioned by two independent pairs of genes, were identified in sweetclover (Melilotus alba Desr.). The seed colors resulted from all combinations of two embryo and four seed coat phenotypes. Only four of the seed colors were recoverable in true-breeding form. Conventional genetic tests revealed that Y /y alleles determined the absence or presence, respectively, of green pigmentation in both the embryo and seed coat of fully mature seeds. Absence of green was dominant in both seed parts. The C/c alleles conditioned the presence or absence, respectively, of brownish pigmentation in the seed coat and red pigmentation in seedlings with the presence of pigmentation being dominant.