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Combining Ability of Coumestrol Content and its Association with Uterotropic Activity, Yield, and Plant Height in Medicago sativa L. 1
Author(s) -
Stuthman D. D.,
Chorush I. S.,
Nyquist W. E.,
Davis R. L.,
Stob Martin
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/cropsci1971.0011183x001100060021x
Subject(s) - coumestrol , medicago sativa , biology , inbreeding depression , medicago , forage , zoology , inbreeding , monogastric , phytoestrogens , yield (engineering) , agronomy , ruminant , genetics , crop , population , estrogen , demography , materials science , sociology , gene , metallurgy
Six alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) clones, selected for varying amounts of uterotropic activity (UA, increase in uterine weight of castrated female mice fed the plant material), were crossed in all combinations, keeping reciprocals separate. F 2 ’s were produced by selling and intercrossing F 1 sibs. Backcrosses of F 1 ’s to both parents were produced reciprocally. UA, coumestrol concentration, forage yield, and plant height were measured. General combining ability variation among F 1 family means was hnportant for all characters. Specific combining ability variation was not important. Uterotropic activity and coumestrol content were positively correlated, indicating that coumestrol concentration accurately reflects this biological activity of alfalfa in castrated female mice. Both UA and coumestrol were generally negatively correlated with yield and height. Inbreeding significantly affected all characters except coumestrol content. Yield, in particular, decreased more rapidly than the coefficient of inbreeding increased. This inbreeding depression could not he adequately explained by present concepts of inbreeding.