Alfalfa breeding benefits from genomics of Medicago truncatula

• Main Authors: Žilije Bernadet, Mesnije Izabel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Institute of field and vegetable crops, Novi Sad 2010-01-01
• Series: Ratarstvo i Povrtarstvo
• Subjects: breeding; candidate gene; marker; Medicago sativa; Medicago truncatula; model species
• Online Access: http://scindeks-clanci.ceon.rs/data/pdf/1821-3944/2010/1821-39441002395Z.pdf

International programs aim at developing knowledge and tools in the model species Medicago truncatula. Genetic resources, DNA sequences, markers, genetic and physical maps are now publicly available. These efforts contribute to improve breeding schemes of crop species such as alfalfa. However, transfer of information from M. truncatula to alfalfa is not straightforward. The article reviews the gain given by the model species to better analyze genetic determinism of breeding traits in alfalfa. It also shows that investments in alfalfa genomics (DNA sequences, SNP development) are needed to benefit from the model species.