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Ferchichi, Y. Medicago tunetana (Murb.) A.W. Hill. Encyclopedia. Available online: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/14367 (accessed on 19 March 2024).
Ferchichi Y. Medicago tunetana (Murb.) A.W. Hill. Encyclopedia. Available at: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/14367. Accessed March 19, 2024.
Ferchichi, Yosr. "Medicago tunetana (Murb.) A.W. Hill" Encyclopedia, https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/14367 (accessed March 19, 2024).
Ferchichi, Y. (2021, September 20). Medicago tunetana (Murb.) A.W. Hill. In Encyclopedia. https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/14367
Ferchichi, Yosr. "Medicago tunetana (Murb.) A.W. Hill." Encyclopedia. Web. 20 September, 2021.
Medicago tunetana (Murb.) A.W. Hill
Edit

Medicago tunetana (Murb.) A.W. Hill, a perennial endemic pastoral species, grows at the canopy of Pinus halepensis Mill. plantations forest of the Tunisian Dorsal. Although M. tunetana is an interested pasture legume with its abiotic stress tolerance  rhizome production, it is a rare species and threatened to disappear because of overgrazing. Whereas, it could contribute in the agro-pastoral systems development in its native regions of Tunisian ridge.

Medicago tunetana characterization conservation programs genetic diversity SSRs markers

1. introduction

Medicago tunetana (Murb.) A.W. Hill (Figure 1.), a perennial C3 pastoral species in the family of Fabaceae, is endemic to Algeria and Tunisia. It is recognized by yellow flowers reaching 20 flowers per inflorescence. Pods are enrolled into 3 to 5 turns and covered with glandular hairs which are the major criteria for this species[1]. It was recorded in several sites reported in Tunisian Flora [1]with some new prospected sites of Western North and Midwest regions of Tunisian dorsal ridge (Figure 2.). These regions are characterized by a continental climate and generally roughly with an average annual rainfall ranging between 220 mm and 550 mm and located at a large bioclimatic zone differences ranging from a sub-humid with cool winter at Sekiet Sidi Youssef to a medium semi-arid at Kasserine sites. M. tunetana generally grows at the canopy of Pinus halepensis Mill. plantations forest characterized by a high level of organic matter in the soil that can reach more than 6% and a calcareous soil with an average of active lime content in soil ranged between 8.46 and 30.7% with an alkaline soil .

Figure1:Medicago tunetana

Figure 2. The geographical localization of the eight M. tunetana accessions 

2. Medicago tunetana assets

Despite M. tunetana has several interested eco-physiological assets including cold and drought tolerance, winter hardiness, rhizome production and calcareous soil tolerance; this genetic resource has been stilled unstudied. Furthermore, M. tunetana is classified as a rare species and threatened to disappear because of overgrazing whereas, it could contribute in the agro-pastoral systems development in its native regions of Tunisian ridge.

3. Taxonomic ambiguity

In fact, there is an ambiguity in M. tunetana taxonomy; it is considered as a subspecies of M. sativa according to Quiros & Bauchan (1988) [2]and Small & Jomphe (1989)[3]. However, and according to other authors[4], M. tunetana is classified as an independent species.

4. Genetic diversity using SSR markers

The investigation of the genetic diversity of M. tunetana species using SSR markers for seven wild accessions was determined as the first genetic study of M. tunetana. The studied M. tunetana genotypes show a large genetic variability. A total of 54 different alleles were obtained for a sample of 20 plants per accession. The high number of alleles per locus may be explained by the high heterozygosity and allogamy of studied accessions and the observed allogamy could be explained by the gametophytic self-incompatibility of M. tunetana plant species. SSR markers were as efficient to determine genetic variation among M. tunetana accessions. Nevertheless, the number of SSRs used as well as the broad genetic base of M. tunetana species could be considered not enough. 

5. Conservation and management

Conservation and management of this rare pastoral genetic resource is an essential preoccupation in order to contribute to the grassland improvement of the mountains of Western North and Western Centre regions of Tunisia. Ex situ conservation of M. tunetana accessions as a Pastoritum or seeds in Gene Bank contributes to this genetic resource conservation as well as in the local alfalfa breeding programs. M. tunetana is an allogamous plant species needing an optimal sample size more than 200 seeds per accession to be conserved in Gene Bank  which will allow preserving genetic diversity[5]

References

  1. Pottier-Alapetite, G. Flore de la Tunisie Angiospermes-Dialypétales; Imprimerie Officielle de la République Tunisienne: Tunisie, 1979; pp. 334-338.
  2. Quiros, C. F.; Bauchan, G. R.; The genus Medicago and the origin of the Medicago sativa complex. In: Alfalfa and alfalfa improvemen. Agronomy monograph 1988, 29, 93-124, https://doi.org/10.2134/agronmonogr29.c3. .
  3. Small, E.; Jomphe, M.; A synopsis of the genus Medicago (Leguminosae).. Canadian Journal of Botany 1989, 67, 3260-3294, https://doi.org/10.1139/b89-405. .
  4. KARLIS ADOLFS LESIN8 & IRMA LESINS . GENUS MEDICAGO (LEGUMINOSAE) A TAXOGENETIC STUDY ; W. Junk, Eds.; Publishers The Hague-Boston-: London, 1979; pp. 288.
  5. Rouz, S.; Ben Jeddi, F.; Zouaghi, M.; ghrabi-Gammar, Z; Diversité génétique des accessions de bersim (Trifolium alexandrinum L., Fabaceae) par la technique SDS PAGE. Annales de l’I.N.R.A.T 2012, 27, 145–161.
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