Triterpene Saponins from Barrel Medic (Medicago truncatula) Aerial Parts

Medicago truncatula (barrel medic) and Pisum sativum subsp. elatius (wild pea) accessions originating from variable environmental conditions in the Mediterranean basin were used to study physical seed dormancy (PY) release. The effect of soil burial on PY release was tested on 112 accessions of medic and 46 accessions of pea over the period of 3 months in situ at three common gardens (Hungary, Spain and Greece) from 2017 through 2019. PY release after soil exhumation followed by experimental laboratory germination of remaining dormant seeds (wet, 25 °C, 21 days) were related to the environmental conditions of the common garden and macroclimatic variables of the site of origin of the accessions. Higher PY release was observed in buried seeds under humid rather than under dry and hot environments. Exposure of remaining dormant seeds to experimental laboratory conditions increased total PY release up to 70% and 80% in barrel medic and wild pea, respectively. Wild pea showed higher phenotypic plasticity on PY release than barrel medic, which had higher bet-hedging within-season. Wild pea showed lower bet-hedging among-season (PY < 10%) in relation to precipitation than barrel medic, which was more conservative (PY ≈ 20%). Observed variability suggests that these species have the capability to cope with ongoing climate change.

Download Full-text

Inheritance of three marker characters in Medicago truncatula Gaertn. (M. tribuloides Desr.)

Australian Journal of Agricultural Research ◽

10.1071/ar9650031 ◽

1965 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

pp. 31 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

JP Simon

Keyword(s):

Medicago Truncatula ◽

Recessive Gene ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Anthocyanin Pigmentation ◽

Genetic Studies ◽

Seed Certification ◽

Pigmentation Pattern ◽

Barrel Medic ◽

Complete Penetrance ◽

Dominant Genes

The inheritance has been studied of three morphological characters which could be used as markers in the "pure seed" certification of commercial varieties of barrel medic, M. truncatula Gaertn. The leaf anthocyanin pigmentation pattern, as found in accession No. 2829, and the clockwise form of pod coiling characterizing accession No. 3309, are determined by single dominant genes. The spineless character of the pod of accession No. 2822 is due to a recessive gene. The simple inheritance of these characters and the complete penetrance of the genes concerned indicate that the anthocyanin marker and the spineless pod could be used for certification. Since the clockwise-anticlockwise pattern of coiling occurs in both forms in commercial barrel medic varieties, it is likely to be useful only as a marker in genetic studies. Details are given of a satisfactory procedure developed for crossing medic varieties

Download Full-text

Sulphur and phosphorus fertilizers increase the yield of barrel medic (Medicago truncatula) five-fold in native pasture on a traprock soil

Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1071/ea9890527 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 29 (4) ◽

pp. 527 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

NM Clarkson ◽

IF Swann ◽

NP Chaplain

Keyword(s):

Medicago Truncatula ◽

Elemental Sulfur ◽

Nitrogen Concentration ◽

Nutrient Concentrations ◽

Phosphorus Concentration ◽

First Year ◽

Yield Increase ◽

Barrel Medic ◽

Yield And Quality ◽

Native Pasture

A single application of sulfur and phosphorus in the first year produced a 5-fold yield increase in barrel medic (Medicago truncatula cv. Jemalong), every year for 3 years, on traprock country in southern inland Queensland. In the first year, the yield of medic increased from 400 (untreated) to 1300 kg/ha with sulfur alone (at 40 kg/ha), and to 2300 kg /ha with sulfur and phosphorus together (both at 40 kg/ha). In the second and third years, sulfur and phosphorus together increased yields from 300 to 1400 kg/ha, and from 800 to 4000 kg/ha, respectively. The experiment tested factorial combinations of sulfur and phosphorus, both at 0, 10 and 40 kg/ha, 3 sources of sulfur (gypsum, superphosphate fortified with elemental sulfur and called 'super and sulfur', and elemental sulfur) and agricultural limestone at 2500 kg/ha. Seed and fertiliser were broadcast into a native pasture at the start of the experiment. Elemental sulfur was inferior to gypsum and 'super and sulfur' in the first year, but equally effective thereafter. There was no response to lime. Fertilising with sulfur and phosphorus together increased the sulfur concentration in medic tops from 0.10 to 0.23%, the phosphorus concentration from 0.19 to 0.23%, and the nitrogen concentration from 2.12 to 2.82%. Nutrient concentrations in plant and soil were examined as an aid to diagnosing deficiencies at other sites. We concluded that adequately fertilising medic with sulfur and phosphorus can greatly improve pasture yield and quality, and allow higher stocking rates on traprock country.

Download Full-text