Agronomy and Horticulture Department
Date of this Version
9-1971
Abstract
Two simply inherited characters, o-hydroxycinnamic acid (o-HCA) content and β-glucosidase activity, were used as genetic marker s in studying the frequency of cross-fertilization in Melilotus alba Desr. Based on the o-HCA marker, the effective cross-fertilization averaged 58% for two harvest years in a biennial population and 67% in a 1-year study with an annual population. Use of the β-glucosidase marker provided a cross-pollination estimate of 72% in the biennial population. The extent of natural crossing in sweetclover appears to be sufficient to restore normal vigor in the production of varieties synthesized from selected inbred lines.
Comments
Published in Crop Science (September-October 1971) 11(5): 767-768.