Genetic Nomenclature in Clovers and Special‐Purpose Legumes: I. Red and White Clover

Abstract

Clover and special‐purpose legumes (not including alfalfa, Medicago sativa L.) constitute the primary genetic resource of legumes for grass‐legume based pasture and hay systems. The group is diverse and contains species from the genera Trifolium, Lotus, Lespedeza, Vicia, and others. Although species in these genera have been the subject of research for at least six decades no systematic scheme for genetic nomenclature has been adopted and a variety of conventions and gene symbols have been used. Absense of a centralized repository for genetic marker stocks has contributed to the loss of seed stocks of named genes. This paper (i) outlines a set of rules for uniform nomenclature and symbolization for the clovers and special purpose legumes, (ii) defines the membership of a permanent committee on gene symbolism and designates a central repository for named genes, and (iii) tabulates gene symbols published to date for red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) and white clover (T. repens L.) and attempts to clarify cases of duplicate nomenclature with establishment of a list of recommended gene symbols. The inheritance and gene symbols are tabulated for 61 previously published red clover genes and 28 previously published white clover genes. The genetic behavior of 27 other traits in red clover for which gene symbols were not published is summarized. Gene nomenclature and symbols according to the rules outlined are proposed for 27 genes in red clover and 28 genes in white clover. Two linkage groups are described for white clover.