Track 4-1-2: Breeding Cultivated Forage Species for Biomass, Quality and Stress Tolerance
Description
Trifolium alexandrinum, commonly known as Berseem or Egyptian clover (2n=2x=16) is an important winter forage legume in India, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt and Mediterranean region. It is characterized by three ecotypes viz; Mescavi, Fahli and Saidi. Amongst these, Mescavi type is most popular. In India it is cultivated in about 2 million hectare area.
The major impediment in genetic improvement of berseem is the lack of appreciable genetic variability (Verma and Mishra, 1995; Roy et al., 2004; Malaviya et al., 2005). Although limited, variability for desirable traits at intraspecific (T. alexandrinum var Fahli and var Saidi) has been reported, considerable variability exists at interspecific level. Affinity of T. alexandrinum was tested with different wild Trifolium species (Malaviya et al., 2005) and was successfully hybridized with T. apertum for transfer of desirable traits such as late maturity and root rot resistance (Malaviya et al., 2004). In the segregating population of the cross, novel morphological traits such as black seed coat colour were also observed (Malaviya et al., 2012). T. alexandrinum var Fahli is single cut type and has several desirable characteristics like self compatibility (even not requiring tripping), good plant height, better seed yield, apical branching, etc.
For incorporation of desirable genes in the improved genepool of beseem, the study of inheritance pattern of traits under consideration is a prerequisite. Therefore, present study was undertaken to study the inheritance pattern of pentafoliate leaf, dark green colour of leaf, black seed coat colour and regeneration capacity.
Included in
Genetic Analysis of Some Morphological Traits in Egyptian Clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.)
Trifolium alexandrinum, commonly known as Berseem or Egyptian clover (2n=2x=16) is an important winter forage legume in India, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt and Mediterranean region. It is characterized by three ecotypes viz; Mescavi, Fahli and Saidi. Amongst these, Mescavi type is most popular. In India it is cultivated in about 2 million hectare area.
The major impediment in genetic improvement of berseem is the lack of appreciable genetic variability (Verma and Mishra, 1995; Roy et al., 2004; Malaviya et al., 2005). Although limited, variability for desirable traits at intraspecific (T. alexandrinum var Fahli and var Saidi) has been reported, considerable variability exists at interspecific level. Affinity of T. alexandrinum was tested with different wild Trifolium species (Malaviya et al., 2005) and was successfully hybridized with T. apertum for transfer of desirable traits such as late maturity and root rot resistance (Malaviya et al., 2004). In the segregating population of the cross, novel morphological traits such as black seed coat colour were also observed (Malaviya et al., 2012). T. alexandrinum var Fahli is single cut type and has several desirable characteristics like self compatibility (even not requiring tripping), good plant height, better seed yield, apical branching, etc.
For incorporation of desirable genes in the improved genepool of beseem, the study of inheritance pattern of traits under consideration is a prerequisite. Therefore, present study was undertaken to study the inheritance pattern of pentafoliate leaf, dark green colour of leaf, black seed coat colour and regeneration capacity.
