USING DIPLOID GERMPLASM TO UNDERSTAND GENOME STRUCTURE, SEGREGATION DISTORTION, AND YIELD OF ALFALFA

In this project, we aim to investigate four objectives:(1) To develop high quality, haplotype resolved reference genomes diploid M. sativa subsp. caerulea and subsp. falcata in order to evaluate structural variation,(2) To identify genomic loci exhibiting segregation distortion toward excess heterozygosity in diverse genetic backgrounds,(3) To map quantitative trait loci (QTL) for biomass yield and yield components, and(4) To compare the location of structural variants, loci exhibiting segregation distortion toward excess heterozygosity, and QTL for biomass yield and yield components.Our long term goal is to understand mechanistically the genetic drivers of biomass yield and to use that understanding to predict gene and/or haplotype combinations that will lead to yield improvement. This project is a first step toward that goal and will lead to testable hypotheses about loci controlling yield that can be incorporated into breeding programs.