Morphological characterization of Mediterranean populations of Biserrula pelecinus L.

A collection of 24 populations of Biserrula pelecinus L. (biserrula)from Italy (Sardinia), Spain. France (Corsica). Morocco and Greece was evaluated in nursery rows at Perth, Western Australia. Fifteen morphological traits were recorded and chromosome numbers of representative populations were counted: The quantitative characters were analysed using principal component analysis and k-means clustering. The chromosome number of all accessions was 2n= 2x= 16. In other respects there was substantial variation in biserrula collected from the Mediterranean basin, the Moroccan populations in particular being distinct, some with strongly curved pods and others with long linear pods. All Greek populations had while flowers and large seeds. Populations from Italy. France and Spain were similar, with linear pods, blue flowers and smaller seeds. Most populations from Morocco were early flowering, had larger leaves, longer pods and produced more seeds per plant than other populations. All populations were extremely hard seeded (>98% hard-seeded after a one-summer exposure on the soil surface). It wits concluded that there is sufficient variation in Mediterranean populations of biserrula lo initiate a selection programme for southern Australia, and other areas with Mediterranean-type climates, especially for areas where serradella ((Ornithopus compressus L.) is adapted. Seed production is far easier than for serradella, and this advantage alone offers potential for its use in duplex soils where the deep rooting habit of serradella gives it an ecological advantage over conventional pasture legumes.