CHARACTERIZATION OF LOTUS L. SPECIES AT SEEDLING DEVELOPMENTAL STAGE (LEGUMINOSAE, LOTEAE)
Ana M. Arambarri1 and Pedro A. Balatti2
1Area de Botánica, 2Area de Microbiología, Departamento de Biología y Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales, Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP), C.C. 31-1900 La Plata, Argentina.
Tel: 54-0221-4211254. Fax: 54-0221-4252346.
E-mail: amaramba@isis.unlp.edu.ar; pbalatti@ceres.agro.edu.ar
Abstract. The genus Lotus L. (Leguminosae, Loteae) contains approximately 100 species distributed throughout the world. In Argentina, L. corniculatus L., L. glaber Mill., L. pedunculatus Cav., and L. suaveolens Pers. are naturalized in some areas of the country. However, L. glaber is the most succesful species in the Salado River Basin, due to its capacity to adapt to heavy saline soils. In this area of approximately 7 million ha, located in the province of Buenos Aires, the accesions of 24 classes of Lotus were cultivated and evaluated. In this paper the morphological divergences among species of Lotus at seedling developmental stage are summarized.
Key words. Morphology, Leguminosae, Loteae, Lotus, Seedling
Introduction
The genus Lotus L. contains approximately 100 species (Gunn, 1983; Polhill, 1994), distributed throughout of the World. It includes annual and perennial plants with a strong branched taproots (MacDonald, 1946). Some species like L. pedunculatus Cav. have rhizomes. The leaves have usually 5 glabrous or pubescent leaflets. The inflorescence is axillary with one to several flowers. Pods are frequently dehiscent carrying 1 to 30 seeds, exceptionally 45. The seed shapes are generally ovate-roundish, 0.8 to 4 mm long.
Lotus plants, as other leguminous plants, establish a symbiosis with gram negative soil bacteria of the genus Mesorhizobium and Bradyrhizobium resulting this, in the development of nitrogen fixing nodules (Jarvis et al. 1982, 1997).
The genus includes plant species that are adapted to an ample range of habitats from marine environments to high altitudes, from sandy soils to heavy saline soils (Heyn, 1970; Heyn et al. 1967; Montes, 1988; Small, 1989). However, the best known species of the genus is L. corniculatus which has been growing in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and the Americas. In Argentina, several species like L. corniculatus L., L. glaber Mill., L. pedunculatus Cav. and L. suaveolens Pers., are naturalized (Burkart, 1952; Montes, 1982; Burkart et al. 1987; Arambarri, 1997). However, L. glaber is the most succesful species in the Salado River basin, province of Buenos Aires. This extensive area of approximately 7 million ha, has soils and climate conditions that are particularly harsh for plant growth. Therefore, there are only a few plant species that can grow and produce, acceptable levels of dry matter per ha, without depleting the nitrogen content of the soil.
From the hypothesis that the genus Lotus holds enough genetic potentials to improve both dry matter production and growth of plants growing under diverse environmental conditions. We introduced 30 classes of Lotus, among them we evaluated 20 species one subspecies, and three varieties. The characterization and evaluation of the 24 accessions of diverse origin were performed in the soil and weather conditions of the Salado River basin (Arambarri and Balatti, 1999).
In this paper we present the characterization of Lotus species at the seedling developmental stage.
Material and Methods
Seeds were embedded in water for two hours, then seeded in 1 l plastic pots filled with horizon A soil as substratum. Seed germination occurred in 2-12 days. The observations were performed every other week. Before the plants reached a state of 4 to 8 leaves when they were transplanted to the field.
Results
The comparison of morphological divergences among species of Lotus at seedling developmental stage are summarized in Table 1. Cotyledon shapes appear as the most important characteristic. On the basis of cotyledons cordate it might be postulated that exist a closely relationships among L. weilleri and L. edulis with the L. peregrinus group (Heyn, 1966).
Table 1. Characterization of Lotus species at seedling developmental stage. (Leguminosae, Loteae)
|
SPECIES |
HYPOCOTYL |
COTYLEDONS |
EPICOTYL |
2-3 METAPHYLLS |
|
L. angustissimus |
green |
oblong |
green and pubescent |
light green |
|
L. arabicus |
pink |
oblong |
green and pubescent |
green cinereous |
|
L. arenarius |
pink |
oblong-rounded |
pink and pubescent |
green cinereous |
|
L. caucasicus |
pink |
oblong |
pink and pubescent |
green-glaucous |
|
L. collinus |
pink |
oblong |
pink and glabrous or pubescent |
green or sericeous |
|
L. conimbricensis |
green |
oblong |
green and glabrous |
green-glaucous |
|
L. corniculatus |
green |
oblong |
green and glabrescent |
green |
|
L. c. var. arvensis |
green |
oblong |
green and glabrous |
green |
|
L. c. var. ciliatus |
green |
oblong |
pink and pubescent |
green |
|
L. c. var. hirsutus |
pink |
oblong |
green and pubescent |
green |
|
L. c. subsp. frondosus |
pink |
oblong |
green and glabrescent |
green-glaucous |
|
L. creticus |
pink |
oblong |
pink and pubescent |
argenteous |
|
L. discolor |
green |
oblong |
green and pubescent |
green |
|
L. edulis |
pink |
oblong-elliptic, and cordate |
green and pubescent |
light green |
|
L. glaber |
pink |
oblong |
green and glabrous |
green-glaucous |
|
L. krylovii |
pink |
oblong |
pink and glabrous |
green-glaucous |
|
L. macrothricus |
pink |
oblong-rounded |
pink and glabrous |
green |
|
L. maroccanus |
pink |
oblong-rounded |
green and pubescent |
light green |
|
L. ornithopodioides |
pink |
oblong-rounded, and cordate |
green and pubescent |
green |
|
L. palustris |
green |
oblong-rounded |
pink and glabrous |
green |
|
L. pedunculatus |
green |
oblong |
green and glabrous |
green |
|
L. peregrinus |
green |
oblong-rounded and cordate |
green and pubescent |
light green |
|
L. suaveolens |
green |
oblong |
green and pubescent |
green |
|
L. weilleri |
pink |
oblong-rounded, and cordate |
green and pubescent |
green |
Acknowledgments
Seed samples were kindly provided by L. Montes, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Balcarce, (BAL) Argentina. M.M. Mujica, Area de Genética, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Argentina. W.F. Grant, McGill University, Ste Anne de Bellevué, (MTMG), Canada. C. Lehmann, Zentralinstitut fur Genetik und Kulturpflanzenforschung, Gatersleben (GAT), Germany. N. Lázló, Irrigation Research Institute Szaarvas, Hungary. C.C. Heyn, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJ), Israel. S. Linington, Seed Bank Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Wakehurst Place, United Kindom. P.R. Beuselinck, C.R. Gunn, G. White, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germoplasm System, Regional Plant Introduction Station (PI), U.S.A.
References
Arambarri, A.M. 1997. Loteae. Págs.3-7. In: Flora fanerogámica Argentina. Proflora CONICET. Fasc. 37, Córdoba, Argentina.
Arambarri, A.M. and P.A. Balatti. 1999. Lotus germplasm behaviour in the soils and climate of the Salado River Basin, Argentina. Plant Genetic Resources Newsletter 117: 27-30.
Burkart, A. 1952. Loteas. Págs. 280-283. In: Las leguminosas Argentinas. Ed. 2, Acme, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Burkart, N.S. Troncoso de and N.M. Bacigalupo. 1987. Leguminosas. Págs. 576-580. In: Flora ilustrada de Entre Ríos (Argentina). Dicotiledóneas-Arquiclamídeas, A: Salicales a Rosales (incluso Leguminosas). Colección Científica Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria 6(3), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Gunn, C.R. 1983. A nomenclator of legume (Fabaceae) genera. Technical Bulletin 1680. Págs. 294. United States Department of Agriculture.
Heyn, C.C. 1966. A study of the Lotus peregrinus group. Israel Journal of Botany 5(15): 37-47.
Heyn, C.C. 1970. Studies in Lotus. III. The L. angustissimus group. Israel Journal of Botany 5(19): 271-292.
Heyn, C.C. and I. Herrnstadt. 1967. The Lotus creticus group. Kew Bulletin 21(2): 299-309.
Jarvis, B.D.W., C.E. Pankhurst, and J.J. Patel. 1982. Rhizobium loti, a new species of legume root nodule bacteria. International Journal Systematic Bacteriology 32: 378-380
Jarvis, B.D.W., P. van Berkum, W.X. Chen, S.M. Nour, M.P. Fernandez, J.C. Cleyet Marel, and M. Gillis. 1997. Transfer of Rhizobium loti, Rhizobium huakuii, Rhizobium ciceri, Rhizobium mediterraneum and Rhizobium thianshanense to Mesorhizobium gen. nov. International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology 47: 895-898.
Mac Donald, H.A. 1946. Birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) its characteristics and potentialities as a forage legume. Cornell Agricultural Experimental Station Memo 261, U.S.A.
Montes, L. 1982. Big trefoil naturalized in Southwest of Argentina. Lotus Newsletter 13: 22-23.
Montes, L. 1988. Lotus tenuis. Revision bibliográfica. Revista Argentina de Producción Animal. 8: 367-376.
Polhill, R.M. 1994. Classification of the Leguminosae. In: Phytochemical Dictionary of the Leguminosae, Vol. 1. Págs. xxxv-xlviii (F.A. Bisby, J. Buckingham, and J.B. Harborne, eds.). Chapman & Hall, England.
Small, E. 1989. The evolution of genera in the Leguminosae. Págs. 474-475. In: Advances in Legume biology, Internatl. Legume Conf., St. Louis, Missouri, Proc. 1986 (C.H. Stirton and J.L. Zarucchi, eds.). Monographs in Systematic Botany 29, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO, U.S.A.
Appendix 1. Material studied of the species of Lotus L. (Leguminosae, Loteae)
L. angustissimus L. Israel: 366894 1971 (PI); A. Liston 70234 1983 (HUJ); Turkey: 206895 1952 (PI).- A. 30, 32 1983; 33 1986 (LPAG).
L. arabicus L. Spain: 214109 1954 (PI).- A. 34, 35, 43 1983 (LPAG).
L. arenarius Brot. Spain: 303948 1965, 311425 1966, 319020 1963 (PI).- A. 36 - 38 1983 (LPAG).
L. caucasicus Kupr. Russia: 314090, 315449 1966 (PI).- A. 41, 43 - 46 1983 (LPAG).
L. collinus (Boiss.) Heldr. Spain: 287859, 287862 1963 (PI); Israel: U. Plitmann 30001 1979 (HUJ); 330676 1968 (PI).- A. 50, 51 1983; 55 1987 (LPAG).
L. conimbricensis Brot. Czechoslovakia: 308033 1965 (PI); Spain: 311426 1966 (PI); Portugal: 238334 1957 (PI).- A. 58 1983 (LPAG).
L. corniculatus L. Czechoslovakia: 180171 1949 (PI); Hungary: László s. n. cv "G" ; Suecia: 182770 1949 (PI); Turkey: 204586 1953 (PI).- A. 61, 63, 64 1983, 67 1989 (LPAG).
L. c. var. arvensis (Pers.) Ser. Germany: 235091 1956 (PI); Suiza: 235078 1956 (PI).- A. 70, 72 1983 (LPAG).
L. c. var. ciliatus (Ten.) Koch Irán 222808 1954 (PI); Yugoslavia: 251147 1958 (PI).- A. 73, 75 1983 (LPAG).
L. c. var. hirsutus Koch Spain: 214112 (PI).- A. 76 1983 (LPAG).
L. corniculatus subsp. frondosus (Freyn) Kuprian Australia: 316272 1966 (PI); Russia: 314091 1966 (PI).-
L. creticus L. Spain: 311428 1966 (PI); Israel: 308978 1965 (PI).- A. 79 - 81 1983 (LPAG).
L. discolor E. Meyer South Africa: 208136 1953 (PI).- A. 88 1983 (LPAG).
L. edulis L. Australia: 283627 1962, 258396 (PI); Spain: 244281 1957 (PI); Greece: 96-16 (Kew).- A. 90, 92 1983 (LPAG).
L. glaber Mill. (L. tenuis Waldst. & Kit. ex Willd.) Argentina: M. M. Mujica s. n. 1983; Australia: 316271 1966 (PI); EE. UU, California: B-145 (MTMG); Irán: 243222 (PI); Turkey: 206446 (PI).- A. 136 - 139, 141, 142 1983 (LPAG).
L. krylovii Schischk. & Serg. Russia: 314704 1966 (PI); Sweden: B-86 (MTMG).- A. 96, 97 1983 (LPAG).
L. macrothricus Boiss. (L. divaricatus Boiss.) Turkey: 109314 1935 (PI).- A. 99 1983 (LPAG).
L. maroccanus Ball Italy: 239945 1957 (PI).- A. 100 1983 (LPAG).
L. ornithopodioides L. Algeria: 197825 1951 (PI); Greece: 122-17 (Kew); Israel: 368903 (PI).- A. 105 1983, 110 1986 (LPAG).
L. palustris Willd. Israel: 284674 1962 (PI).- A. 109 1983 (LPAG).
L. pedunculatus Cav. (L. uliginosus Schk.) Germany: 232100 1956 (PI); Argentina: L. Montes 551 1981 (BAL); Czechoslovakia: 180172 1949 (PI); New Zealand: 189113 1950 (PI); Portugal: s. n. (GAT).- A. 112, 113, 1983, 116 1986 (LPAG).
L. peregrinus L. Greece: 96-24 (Kew); Israel: 294224 1963, 308809 1965 (PI); A. Danin 11005 1982 (HUJ); A. Liston 70319 1983 (HUJ).- A. 117 1983, 118 1986 (LPAG).
L. suaveolens Pers. (L. hispidus Desf.) Australia: 258397 1959, 283615 1962 (PI); Czechoslovakia: 308036 1965 (PI); Greece: 123-06 (Kew).- A. 128 - 130 1983, 147 1986 (LPAG).
L. weilleri Maire France: 196332 1951 (PI); Hungary: 368910 1970 (PI).- A. 145 1986 (LPAG).