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Cross‐Fertilization in Melilotus Alba 1
Author(s) -
Gorz H. J.,
Haskins F. A.
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.2135/cropsci1971.0011183x001100050051x
Subject(s) - melilotus , biology , human fertilization , population , botany , agronomy , demography , sociology
Two simply inherited characters, o‐hydroxycinnamic acid (o‐HCA) content and β‐glucosidase activity, were used as genetic markers 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.