Medicago

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Medicago
Medicago littoralis2.jpg
Medicago littoralis
Medicago granadensis 2.jpg
Medicago granadensis bur
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Clade: Inverted repeat-lacking clade
Tribe: Trifolieae
Genus: Medicago
L. (1753)
Type species
Medicago sativa
Species

87–105; see text.

Synonyms [1]
  • CochleataMedik. (1787)
  • CrimaeaVassilcz. (1979)
  • DiploprionViv. (1824)
  • FactorovskyaEig (1927)
  • KamiellaVassilcz. (1979)
  • Lupularia(Serg.) Opiz (1852), nom. superfl.
  • LupulinaNoulet (1837), nom. superfl.
  • MedicaMill. (1754)
  • MediculaMedik. (1787)
  • NephromediaKostel. (1844)
  • RhodusiaVassilcz. (1972)
  • SpirocarpusOpiz (1852)
  • TrifillumMedik. (1787)
  • TurukhaniaVassilcz. (1979)
Anatomical diagram of Medicago flowers. Medicago sp.jpg
Anatomical diagram of Medicago flowers.

Medicago is a genus of flowering plants, commonly known as medick or burclover, in the legume family (Fabaceae). It contains at least 87 species and is distributed mainly around the Mediterranean Basin, [2] [3] and extending across temperate Eurasia and sub-Saharan Africa. [1] The best-known member of the genus is alfalfa (M. sativa), an important forage crop, [4] and the genus name is based on the Latin name for that plant, medica, from Greek : μηδική (πόα) Median (grass). [5] Most members of the genus are low, creeping herbs, resembling clover, but with burs (hence the common name). However, alfalfa grows to a height of 1 meter, and tree medick (M. arborea) is a shrub. Members of the genus are known to produce bioactive compounds such as medicarpin (a flavonoid) and medicagenic acid (a triterpenoid saponin). [3] Chromosome numbers in Medicago range from 2n = 14 to 48. [6]

Contents

The species Medicago truncatula is a model legume [7] due to its relatively small stature, small genome (450–500 Mbp), short generation time (about 3 months), and ability to reproduce both by outcrossing and selfing.

Comprehensive descriptions of the genus are Lesinš and Lesinš 1979 [8] and Small and Jomphe 1989. [9] Major collections are SARDI (Australia), [10] USDA-GRIN (United States), [11] ICARDA (Syria), [12] and INRA (France). [13]

Evolution

Medicago diverged from Glycine (soybean) about 53–55 million years ago (in the early Eocene), [14] from Lotus (deervetch) 49–51 million years ago (also in the Eocene), [14] and from Trigonella 10–22 million years ago (in the Miocene). [15]

Ecological interactions with other organisms

Symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing rhizobia

Béna et al. (2005) constructed a molecular phylogeny of 23 Sinorhizobium strains and tested the symbiotic ability of six strains with 35 Medicago species. [16] Comparison of these phylogenies indicates many transitions in the compatibility of the association over evolutionary time. Furthermore, they propose that the geographical distribution of strains limits the distribution of particular Medicago species.

Agricultural uses

Agronomic research has been conducted on species of the Medicago genus. Other than alfalfa, several of the prostrate members of the family (such as Medicago lupulina and Medicago truncatula ) have been used as forage crops. [17] Select species in the Medicago genus naturally develop spiney pods during the reproductive phase of growth (such as Medicago intertexta and Medicago polymorpha ). Despite having high levels of agronomic performance, these are typically viewed as undesirable in sheep based farming systems due to their ability to become lodged in wool, reducing fleece value. [18] Breeding efforts in the 1990's have yielded spineless varieties of burr medic , providing valuable production amongst farming systems in low rainfall (<300mm annual), free draining, alkaline soils. [19]

Insect herbivores

Medicago species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including the common swift, flame, latticed heath, lime-speck pug, nutmeg, setaceous Hebrew character, and turnip moths and case-bearers of the genus Coleophora , including C. frischella (recorded on M. sativa) and C. fuscociliella (feeds exclusively on Medicago spp.).[ citation needed ]

Species

This list is compiled from: [9] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28] [29]

Section Buceras

Subsection Deflexae

Subsection Erectae

Subsection Isthmocarpae

Subsection Reflexae

Section Carstiensae

Section Dendrotelis

Section Geocarpa

Section Heynianae

Section Hymenocarpos

Section Lunatae

Section Lupularia

Section Medicago

Section Orbiculares

Section Platycarpae

Subsection Rotatae

Section Spirocarpos

Subsection Intertextae

Subsection Leptospireae

Subsection Pachyspireae

Species names with uncertain taxonomic status

The status of the following species is unresolved: [9]

  • Medicago agropyretorumVassilcz.
  • Medicago alatavicaVassilcz.
  • Medicago caucasicaVassilcz.
  • Medicago cyrenaeaMaire & Weiller
  • Medicago difalcataSinskaya
  • Medicago grossheimiiVassilcz.
  • Medicago gunibicaVassilcz.
  • Medicago hemicoeruleaSinskaya
  • Medicago karatschaica(A. Heller) A. Heller
  • Medicago komaroviiVassilcz.
  • Medicago meyeriGruner
  • Medicago polychroaGrossh.
  • Medicago schischkiniiSumnev.
  • Medicago talyschensisLatsch.
  • Medicago transoxanaVassilcz.
  • Medicago tunetana(Murb.) A.W. Hill
  • Medicago vardanis' Vassilcz.
  • Medicago virescensGrossh.

Recent molecular phylogenic analyses of Medicago indicate that the sections and subsections defined by Small & Jomphe, as outlined above, are generally polyphyletic. [2] [15] [16] [31] [32] [33] [34] [35] However, with minor revisions sections and subsections could be rendered monophyletic. [15] [31] [32] [33] [34] [35]

Notes

  1. ↑ Some sources treat Medicago citrina as a synonym of Medicago arborea.
  2. ↑ The validity of Medicago sinskiae has been questioned by Small and Jomphe, 1988. [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clover</span> Genus of legumes

Clover, also called trefoil, are plants of the genus Trifolium, consisting of about 300 species of flowering plants in the legume family Fabaceae originating in Europe. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution with highest diversity in the temperate Northern Hemisphere, but many species also occur in South America and Africa, including at high altitudes on mountains in the tropics. They are small annual, biennial, or short-lived perennial herbaceous plants, typically growing up to 30 centimetres (12 in) tall. The leaves are trifoliate, with stipules adnate to the leaf-stalk, and heads or dense spikes of small red, purple, white, or yellow flowers; the small, few-seeded pods are enclosed in the calyx. Other closely related genera often called clovers include Melilotus and Medicago.

<i>Onobrychis</i> Genus of flowering plants in the bean family Fabaceae

Onobrychis, the sainfoins, are a genus of Eurasian perennial herbaceous plants of the legume family (Fabaceae). About 206 species are presently accepted. The Flora Europaea lists 23 species of Onobrychis; the main centre of diversity extends from Central Asia to Iran, with 56 species – 27 of which are endemic – in the latter country alone. O. viciifolia is naturalized throughout many countries in Europe and North America grasslands on calcareous soils.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fabaceae</span> Family of legume flowering plants

The Fabaceae or Leguminosae, commonly known as the legume, pea, or bean family, are a large and agriculturally important family of flowering plants. It includes trees, shrubs, and perennial or annual herbaceous plants, which are easily recognized by their fruit (legume) and their compound, stipulate leaves. The family is widely distributed, and is the third-largest land plant family in number of species, behind only the Orchidaceae and Asteraceae, with about 765 genera and nearly 20,000 known species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alfalfa</span> Plant species in pea family

Alfalfa, also called lucerne, is a perennial flowering plant in the legume family Fabaceae. It is cultivated as an important forage crop in many countries around the world. It is used for grazing, hay, and silage, as well as a green manure and cover crop. The name alfalfa is used in North America. The name lucerne is more commonly used in the United Kingdom, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. The plant superficially resembles clover, especially while young, when trifoliate leaves comprising round leaflets predominate. Later in maturity, leaflets are elongated. It has clusters of small purple flowers followed by fruits spiralled in two to three turns containing 10–20 seeds. Alfalfa is native to warmer temperate climates. It has been cultivated as livestock fodder since at least the era of the ancient Greeks and Romans.

<i>Vicia sativa</i> Species of flowering plant in the bean family Fabaceae

Vicia sativa, known as the common vetch, garden vetch, tare or simply vetch, is a nitrogen-fixing leguminous plant in the family Fabaceae. It is now naturalised throughout the world occurring on every continent, except Antarctica and the Arctic. The centre of diversity is thought to be the Fertile Crescent, although gold standard molecular confirmation is currently not available.

<i>Medicago truncatula</i> Species of legume

Medicago truncatula, the barrelclover, strong-spined medick, barrel medic, or barrel medick, is a small annual legume native to the Mediterranean region that is used in genomic research. It is a low-growing, clover-like plant 10–60 centimetres (3.9–23.6 in) tall with trifoliate leaves. Each leaflet is rounded, 1–2 centimetres (0.39–0.79 in) long, often with a dark spot in the center. The flowers are yellow, produced singly or in a small inflorescence of two to five together; the fruit is a small, spiny pod.

<i>Ensifer meliloti</i> Species of bacterium

Ensifer meliloti are an aerobic, Gram-negative, and diazotrophic species of bacteria. S. meliloti are motile and possess a cluster of peritrichous flagella. S. meliloti fix atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia for their legume hosts, such as alfalfa. S. meliloti forms a symbiotic relationship with legumes from the genera Medicago, Melilotus and Trigonella, including the model legume Medicago truncatula. This symbiosis promotes the development of a plant organ, termed a root nodule. Because soil often contains a limited amount of nitrogen for plant use, the symbiotic relationship between S. meliloti and their legume hosts has agricultural applications. These techniques reduce the need for inorganic nitrogenous fertilizers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Root nodule</span> Plant part

Root nodules are found on the roots of plants, primarily legumes, that form a symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Under nitrogen-limiting conditions, capable plants form a symbiotic relationship with a host-specific strain of bacteria known as rhizobia. This process has evolved multiple times within the legumes, as well as in other species found within the Rosid clade. Legume crops include beans, peas, and soybeans.

<i>Vicia</i> Genus of flowering plants in the bean family Fabaceae

Vicia is a genus of over 240 species of flowering plants that are part of the legume family (Fabaceae), and which are commonly known as vetches. Member species are native to Europe, North America, South America, Asia and Africa. Some other genera of their subfamily Faboideae also have names containing "vetch", for example the vetchlings (Lathyrus) or the milk-vetches (Astragalus). The lentils are included in genus Vicia, and were formerly classified in genus Lens. The broad bean is sometimes separated in a monotypic genus Faba; although not often used today, it is of historical importance in plant taxonomy as the namesake of the order Fabales, the Fabaceae and the Faboideae. The tribe Vicieae in which the vetches are placed is named after the genus' current name. The true peas (Pisum) are among the closest living relatives of vetches.

<i>Trigonella</i> Genus of Fabaceae plants

Trigonella is a genus from the family Fabaceae. The best known member is the herb fenugreek. Members of the genus occur naturally in the Canary Islands, southern Europe, non‑tropical Africa, western and central Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and Australia.

<i>Medicago lupulina</i> Plant species in the bean family

Medicago lupulina, commonly known as black medick, nonesuch, or hop clover, is a plant of dry grassland belonging to the legume or clover family. Plants of the genus Medicago, or bur clovers, are closely related to the true clovers (Trifolium) and sweet clover (Melilotus). Like the true clovers, black medick has three leaflets and a small, yellow flower closely resembling those of lesser trefoil. Black medick belongs to the same genus as alfalfa.

<i>Sisymbrium</i> Genus of flowering plants

Sisymbrium is a genus of plants in the family Brassicaceae.

<i>Medicago arborea</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae

Medicago arborea is a flowering plant species in the pea and bean family Fabaceae. Common names include moon trefoil, shrub medick, alfalfa arborea, and tree medick. It is found throughout Europe and especially in the Mediterranean basin, primarily on rocky shores among shrubby vegetation. It forms a symbiotic relationship with the bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti, which is capable of nitrogen fixation. It is the only member of the genus Medicago which is used as an ornamental. M. arborea is sometimes misidentified as Cytisus, which it resembles.

Medicago constricta is an annual, non-climbing species of the genus Medicago. It is found in the Mediterranean basin from Greece to Israel. M. constricta is found primarily in sandy clay or dry soils. It forms a symbiotic relationship with the bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti, which is capable of nitrogen fixation.

<i>Medicago turbinata</i> Species of legume

Medicago turbinata, the Southern medick, is a plant species of the genus Medicago It is found throughout the Mediterranean basin. It forms a symbiotic relationship with the bacterium Sinorhizobium medicae, which is capable of nitrogen fixation. An unidentified lectin isolated from M. turbinata has shown limited usefulness as a phytohaemagglutinin. The seed weight is 4.66 pounds.

<i>Lotus japonicus</i> Species of legume

Lotus japonicus is a wild legume that belongs to family Fabaceae. Members of this family are very diverse, constituting about 20,000 species. They are of significant agricultural and biological importance as many of the legume species are rich sources of protein and oil and can also fix atmospheric nitrogen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Medicarpin</span> Chemical compound

Medicarpin is a pterocarpan, a derivative of isoflavonoids.

The Legume Information System (LIS) is legume sciences portal specifically for legume breeders and researchers, established and supported by the Agricultural Research Service of the United States Department of Agriculture. The mission of the Legume Information System is "to facilitate discoveries and crop improvement in the legumes," in particular to improve crop yields, their nutritional value, and our understanding of basic legume science.

<i>Trigonella suavissima</i> Species of plant

Trigonella suavissima is a herbaceous plant that is endemic to Australia. It is a member of the genus Trigonella and the family Fabaceae. Common names include Cooper clover, Menindee clover, calomba, Darling trigonella, sweet fenugreek, channel clover, sweet-scented clover and Australian shamrock.

<i>Medicago rigidula</i> Species of plant

Medicago rigidula, the Tifton burclover, is a species of annual herb in the family Fabaceae. They have a self-supporting growth form and compound, broad leaves. Individuals can grow to 0.50m tall. It is a secondary wild relative of the cultivated crop Barrel Clover, and a tertiary wild relative of cultivated Alfalfa.

References

  1. 1 2 Medicago L. Plants of the World Online . Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  2. 1 2 Steele KP, Ickert-Bond SM, Zarre S, Wojciechowski MF (2010). "Phylogeny and character evolution in Medicago (Leguminosae): Evidence from analyses of plastid trnK/matK and nuclear GA3ox1 sequences". Am J Bot . 97 (7): 1142–1155. doi: 10.3732/ajb.1000009 . PMID   21616866.
  3. 1 2 Gholami A, De Geyter N, Pollier J, Goormachtig S, Goossens A (2014). "Natural product biosynthesis in Medicago species". Natural Product Reports. 31 (3): 356–380. doi:10.1039/C3NP70104B. PMID   24481477.
  4. ↑ "Alfalfa Crop Germplasm Committee Report, 2000". Archived from the original on 2009-05-05. Retrieved 2009-11-04.
  5. ↑ New Oxford American Dictionary (2nd ed., 2005), p. 1054, s.v. medick.
  6. ↑ Rosato M, Galián JA, Rosselló JA (2012). "Amplification, contraction and genomic spread of a satellite DNA family (E180) in Medicago (Fabaceae) and allied genera". Ann Bot . 109 (4): 773–82. doi:10.1093/aob/mcr309. PMC   3286279 . PMID   22186276.
  7. ↑ "Medicago truncatula". Archived from the original on 29 December 2008. Retrieved 21 November 2008.
  8. ↑ Lesinš KA, Lesinš I (1979). Genus Medicago (Leguminosae): A Taxogenetic Study. The Hague, The Netherlands: Dr. W. Junk B. V. Publishers. p. 132. ISBN   978-90-6193-598-8.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Small E, Jomphe M (1989). "A Synopsis of the Genus Medicago (Leguminosae)". Can J Bot . 67 (11): 3260–94. doi:10.1139/b89-405.
  10. ↑ "SARDI". Archived from the original on 26 October 2008. Retrieved 21 November 2008.
  11. ↑ "GRIN National Genetic Resources Program". Archived from the original on 14 August 2009. Retrieved 21 November 2008.
  12. ↑ "ICARDA Sustainable Agriculture for the Dry Areas". Archived from the original on 11 December 2008. Retrieved 21 November 2008.
  13. ↑ "INRA". Archived from the original on 31 July 2010. Retrieved 21 November 2008.
  14. 1 2 Cannon S. (2008). "3. Legume Comparative Genomics" (PDF). In Stacey G (ed.). Genetics and Genomics of Soybean. Plant Genetics and Genomics: Crops and Models. Vol. II. New York, NY: Springer. p. 38. ISBN   978-0-387-72298-6.
  15. 1 2 3 Maureira Butler IJ, Pfeil BE, Muangprom A, Osborn TC, Doyle JJ (2008). "The reticulate history of Medicago (Fabaceae)". Syst Biol . 57 (6): 466–482. doi: 10.1080/10635150802172168 . PMID   18570039.
  16. 1 2 Béna G, Lyet A, Huguet T, Olivier I (2005). "Medicago–Sinorhizobium symbiotic specificity evolution and the geographic expansion of Medicago". J. Evol. Biol. 18 (6): 1547–58. doi: 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2005.00952.x . PMID   16313467. S2CID   24813001.
  17. ↑ "Black Medic (Medicago lupulina) | Mississippi State University Extension Service". extension.msstate.edu.
  18. ↑ Belinda Hackney; Dr Brian Dear; Graham Crocker. "Naturalised pasture legumes" (PDF). primefacts. NSW DPI.
  19. ↑ "Factsheet - Spineless burr medic". keys.lucidcentral.org.
  20. ↑ "ILDIS LegumeWeb". Archived from the original on 1999-10-07. Retrieved 2008-11-18.
  21. ↑ "Genera Containing Currently Accepted Names: Medicago". Archived from the original on September 30, 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-18.
  22. ↑ "Species Nomenclature in GRIN". Archived from the original on 1999-05-01. Retrieved 2008-11-18.
  23. ↑ "IPNI Plant Name Query Results" . Retrieved 2008-11-22.
  24. ↑ "AgroAtlas - Relatives". Archived from the original on 2008-12-25. Retrieved 2008-11-22.
  25. ↑ "Medicago". Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved 2009-09-16.
  26. ↑ "Discover Life". Archived from the original on 2011-06-12. Retrieved 2010-05-11.
  27. ↑ "eFlora Search Page". www.efloras.org.
  28. ↑ "The Biota of North America Program".[ permanent dead link ]
  29. ↑ "The Plant List". Archived from the original on 2019-03-26. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
  30. ↑ Gillespie DJ, McComb JA (1991). "Morphology and distribution of species in the Medicago murex complex". Can J Bot . 69 (12): 2655–2662. doi:10.1139/b91-333.
  31. 1 2 Béna G, Lejeune B, Prosperi JM, Olivieri I (1998). "Molecular phylogenetic approach for studying life-history evolution: the ambiguous example of the genus Medicago L." Proc Biol Sci . 265 (1401): 1141–1151. doi:10.1098/rspb.1998.0410. PMC   1689169 . PMID   9684377.
  32. 1 2 Downie SR, Katz-Downie DS, Rogers EJ, Zujewski HL, Small E (1998). "Multiple independent losses of the plastid rpoC1 intron in Medicago (Fabaceae) as inferred from phylogenetic analyses of nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer sequences". Can J Bot . 76 (5): 791–803. doi:10.1139/b98-047.
  33. 1 2 Béna G, Prosperi JM, Lejeune B, Olivieri I (1998). "Evolution of annual species of the genus Medicago: a molecular phylogenetic approach". Mol Phylogenet Evol . 9 (3): 552–559. Bibcode:1998MolPE...9..552B. doi:10.1006/mpev.1998.0493. PMID   9668004.
  34. 1 2 Béna G. (2001). "Molecular phylogeny supports the morphologically based taxonomic transfer of the "medicagoid" Trigonella species to the genus Medicago L.". Plant Syst Evol . 229 (3–4): 217–236. Bibcode:2001PSyEv.229..217B. doi:10.1007/s006060170012. S2CID   42887106.
  35. 1 2 Yoder JB, Briskine R, Mudge J, Farmer A, Paape T, Steele K, Weiblen GD, Bharti AK, Zhou P, May GD, Young ND, Tiffin P (2013). "Phylogenetic signal variation in the genomes of Medicago (Fabaceae)". Syst Biol . 62 (3): 424–38. doi: 10.1093/sysbio/syt009 . PMID   23417680.
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