Formation of Bicarpic Populations of Black Medic

Abstract

15 populations of black medic (Medicago lupulina L.) of various ecological and geo-graphical origin were studied by the type of ontogenesis. It was found that 1 population is represented entirely by monocarp forms of plants, 7 populations have 20–60% of mono-carps. Wild alfalfa from the Moscow region and mutant forms created on its basis consist of 100% bicarpic plants. Bicarpic plants of varieties Georgia, Nordol, Rinata and selection number LH19-3, whose average dry matter productivity was 40.8–48.0 g/plant, are valuable as a source material for breeding of black medic. As sources of high seed prod-uctivity (10.0 and 10.3 g/plant), you can use bicarpic plants of the selection number VIK 256 and Georgia varieties, and high leafed (52.4 and 55.3%) — selection numbers DS-1 and VIK 61/94.