QTL Underlying Self-Fertility in Tetraploid Alfalfa

A potential strategy to decrease the levels of self-seed production during the seed increase stages of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) synthetic cultivar development is selection for decreased self-fertility. The underlying genetics of this trait have not been elucidated and, therefore, a study was designed to identify genetic determinants of alfalfa self-fertility. An F1 mapping population developed by crossing parents representing Medicago sativa subsp. falcata and M. sativa subsp. sativa was characterized for self-fertility in a greenhouse during the winter of 1999. Traits representing self-fertility were measured and then mapped to the resulting genetic maps of both parents. Heritability values for each trait were high, suggesting genetic factors are important for their expression. Quantitative trait loci for self-fertility traits were identifi ed on linkage groups (LGs) 2 and 4 from the falcata parent and LGs 4 and 8 of the sativa parent. J.G. Robins, USDA-ARS Forage and Range Research Lab., Utah State Univ., Logan, UT 84322; E.C. Brummer, Dep. of Crop and Soil Sciences and Center for Applied Genetic Technologies, Univ. of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602. Received 27 Feb. 2009. *Corresponding author ( [email protected]). Abbreviations: LG, linkage group; LOD, logarithm of odds; PF, number of seedpods produced per fl oret tripped; QTL, quantitative trait loci; SF, number of seeds produced per fl oret tripped; SP, number of seeds produced per seedpod. Published in Crop Sci. 50:143–149 (2010). doi: 10.2135/cropsci2009.02.0104 © Crop Science Society of America 677 S. Segoe Rd., Madison, WI 53711 USA All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Permission for printing and for reprinting the material contained herein has been obtained by the publisher.