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Inheritance of the White Seed Character in Alfalfa 1
Author(s) -
Oldemeyer Robert K.
Publication year - 1956
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1956.00021962004800100004x
Subject(s) - biology , ploidy , white (mutation) , chromosome pairing , medicago sativa , pairing , gene , offspring , chromosome , botany , inheritance (genetic algorithm) , genetics , pregnancy , superconductivity , physics , quantum mechanics
Synopsis White seed in alfalfa is conditioned by a duplicate set of homozygous recessive genes for colorless and one dominant color inhibitor gene. This gene complex also inhibits anthocyanin production throughout the plant. The distribution of the offspring of a white‐seeded hybrid having pure alfalfa parentage was interpreted as resulting from selective pairing of chromosomes, and that of a white‐seeded hybrid, having as one parent an artificially induced autotetraploid from diploid Medicago falcata , as being the result of random chromosome pairing. These results are taken as evidence that alfalfa is of autotetraploid origin, and has evolved into a functional diploid.