Alfalfa and Relatives Evolution and Classification of Medicago

About this book

Best known as an animal feed, Alfalfa Medicago sativa is one of the most important and widely produced livestock crops grown throughout the temperate world. Alfalfa and Relatives: Evolution and Classification of Medicago provides an in-depth introduction to the Medicago genus, exploring its evolution, breeding and adaptation. Not only are Alfalfa's agricultural and environmental benefits unsurpassed but, due to technological advances, this staple crop is now being developed as a source of human food extracts, pharmaceuticals, enzymes, industrial chemicals, and biofuels. Through this detailed text the authors define the ecological applications of the plant whilst carefully illustrating its economic value and its growing importance as a genetic resource.

Contents

1. Introduction
2. The Economic Importance of Medicago
3. Genetic Resource

THE EVOLUTION OF MEDICAGO
4. Biogeography
5. Chromosomal Evolution
6. Evolution of Interbreeding Barriers
7. Adaptations
8. Coevolution with Nitrogen-fixing Bacteria

THE CLASSIFICATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF MEDICAGO
9. Circumscription of the Genus Medicago and its Classification in the Fabaceae
10. Phylogenetic Lineages and their Classification into Sections and Subsections

ACCOUNTS OF THE SPECIES
11. Identification of Species and Infraspecific Taxa
12. Medicago sativa
13. The Other Species

14. Literature Cited
15. Glossary
16. Guide to Scientific Synonyms
17. Index

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