Understanding patterns of genetic diversity in crop species may enhance the efficiency of germplasm conservation and utilization. Nondormant alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is an important forage crop in southwest Arizona, and originates from low elevations of the Middle East and India. This study examined 60 accessions of nondormant alfalfa from India, north Africa and Arabia in a field trial in Tucson, AZ during 1989-91. Nondormant Indian and African alfalfas have previously been considered independent germplasm sources. Principal components of 6 morphological and 15 agronomic traits were used to classify accessions using average linkage cluster analysis. Low elevation Indian accessions did not differ phenotypically from most African and Arabian alfalfas. This indicates that Indian alfalfas are not an independent source of germplasm in need of conservation as such, but western Arabian alfalfas may be.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:arizona.edu/oai:arizona.openrepository.com:10150/277964 |
| Date | January 1991 |
| Creators | Warburton, Marilyn Louise, 1968- |
| Contributors | Smith, Steven E. |
| Publisher | The University of Arizona. |
| Source Sets | University of Arizona |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text, Thesis-Reproduction (electronic) |
| Rights | Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. |
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