Uneven ploidy levels and a reproductive mutant required for interspecific hybridization of Medicago sativa L. × Medicago dzhawakhetica Bordz.
Crossing diploid (2n = 2x = 16) Medicago sativa L. (homozygous for the gene, jp, that causes failure of the postmeiotic cytokinesis) and tetraploid (2n = 4x = 32) Medicago dzhawakhetica Bordz. resulted in efficient recovery of interspecific hybrids. Interspecific hybrids were produced in large numbers (1.15 – 5.60 hybrids per pollination), comparable to intraspecific same-ploidy level crosses within M. sativa. All 237 interspecific hybrids were triploid (2n = 3x = 24) or near triploid. Morphologically, the F1 hybrids were intermediate, although they tended to be more similar to the M. dzhawakhetica parent. Medicago dzhawakhetica was resistant to spring blackstem (caused by Phoma medicaginis Malb. and Roum.), whereas the M. sativa parents were susceptible. The F1 hybrids were also resistant to P. medicaginis. Chromosome pairing in the hybrids showed plant-to-plant variation; however, trivalent frequencies in some F1 hybrids were comparable to that observed in M. sativa triploids, indicating potential for recombination between M. sativa and M. dzhawakhetica genomes. Although the triploid hybrids were male sterile, and nearly female sterile, it was possible to produce backcross progeny. The first backcross was both male and female fertile.Key words: Medicago, hybridization, breeding, tetraploid, triploid, sterility.