A morphological study of interspecific hybrids in the genus Lotus (Fabaceae)

A morphological study of hybrids in an interspecific hybridization program involving the nonshattering Lotus species L. conimbricensis and L. ornithopodioides and species belonging to the Lotus corniculatus group, L. alpinus, L. japonicus, and L. burttii, was undertaken. Two hybrids (L. alpinus × L. conimbricensis and L. burttii × L. ornithopodioides) are newly reported. Electrophoretic phenotypes for the enzymes phosphoglucomutase and triose-phosphate isomerase confirmed their hybridity. These hybrids were both highly sterile and might provide a source of indehiscence for L. corniculatus via amphidiploidy. Preliminary shattering evaluations of the hybrids that did set seed indicated increased indehiscence is being attained to a limited extent within the L. corniculatus group.