Abstract
Abstract Alfalfa with unstable anthocyanin pigmentation has been independently discovered on six occasions since 1958. Genetic studies showed that each of the six unstable stocks was due to an allele mutable at the basic anthocyanin locus C2 in alfalfa. The alleles are designated c2‐m1 through c2‐m6. Variegated phenotypes of m1, m2 , and m3 are similar and express reversion from the recessive to the dominant state. This reversion produces streaks and sectors of pigment in flower petals and seeds that are otherwise white. Reversion occurs at various times in development and may result in periclinal chimeras. The c2‐m4 allele is unique in that it arose during tissue culture, whereas the other mutables were discovered in plant populations. Interestingly, m4 is very stable in planta and only rarely produces a sectored flower, but is very unstable in vitro as measured by about 23% revertant plants regenerated from tissue cultures. Most m4 reversion occurs relatively early in development and results in completely pigmented in vitro revertants, and in large sectors on in planta revertants. Alleles m5 and m6 are phenotypically and genetically similar. Their flowers are basic purple with white streaks thus representing mutation from dominant purple to recessive white. White progeny of m5 and m6 are very stable both in planta and in vitro; reversion of white to purple was never observed. Thus, the loss of function of the dominant allele results in a stable recessive or a deficiency. The absolute stability of m5 white derivatives favors the deficiency model, because transposable element mutations might show reversion. Finally, several mutations are described that reoccur in the mutable populations. It is speculated that they are recent mutations due to transposition of transposable elements.
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Claims 14
Claim · model-written summary
Unstable anthocyanin pigmentation was independently found six times.
- Taxon
- Alfalfa
Medicago sativae0 - Outcome
- unstable anthocyanin pigmentatione0
- Value
- six occasionse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e0“Alfalfa with unstable anthocyanin pigmentation has been independently discovered on six occasions since 1958”
Claim · model-written summary
All six unstable stocks traced to a mutable C2 allele.
- Taxon
- alfalfa
Medicago sativae0 - Gene
- C2e0
- Outcome
- six unstable stockse0
- Value
- sixe0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e0“each of the six unstable stocks was due to an allele mutable at the basic anthocyanin locus C2 in alfalfa”
Claim · model-written summary
m1, m2 and m3 showed similar variegation with recessive-to-dominant reversion.
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“Variegated phenotypes of m1, m2 , and m3 are similar and express reversion from the recessive to the dominant state”
Claim · model-written summary
Reversion produced pigment streaks and sectors in otherwise white petals and seeds.
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“This reversion produces streaks and sectors of pigment in flower petals and seeds that are otherwise white”
Claim · model-written summary
Reversion could occur at different development times and produce periclinal chimeras.
- Outcome
- periclinal chimerase0
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“Reversion occurs at various times in development and may result in periclinal chimeras”
Claim · model-written summary
c2‐m4 arose during tissue culture, unlike the other mutables found in populations.
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“The c2‐m4 allele is unique in that it arose during tissue culture, whereas the other mutables were discovered in plant populations”
Claim · model-written summary
m4 was very stable in plants and rarely made sectored flowers.
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“m4 is very stable in planta and only rarely produces a sectored flower”
Claim · model-written summary
m4 was unstable in vitro, with about 23% revertant regenerated plants.
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“very unstable in vitro as measured by about 23% revertant plants regenerated from tissue cultures”
Claim · model-written summary
Most m4 reversion happened early, producing fully pigmented in vitro plants and large in planta sectors.
- Gene
- m4e0
- Outcome
- completely pigmented in vitro revertants, and in large sectors on in planta revertantse0
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“Most m4 reversion occurs relatively early in development and results in completely pigmented in vitro revertants, and in large sectors on in planta revertants”
Claim · model-written summary
m5 and m6 were phenotypically and genetically similar.
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“Alleles m5 and m6 are phenotypically and genetically similar”
Claim · model-written summary
m5 and m6 flowers were purple with white streaks, indicating dominant-to-recessive mutation.
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“Their flowers are basic purple with white streaks thus representing mutation from dominant purple to recessive white”
Claim · model-written summary
White progeny of m5 and m6 were stable, with no observed white-to-purple reversion.
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“White progeny of m5 and m6 are very stable both in planta and in vitro; reversion of white to purple was never observed”
Claim · model-written summary
Absolute stability of m5 white derivatives favored a deficiency model.
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“The absolute stability of m5 white derivatives favors the deficiency model, because transposable element mutations might show reversion”
Claim · model-written summary
Recurring mutations in mutable populations were speculated to result from transposable-element movement.
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“several mutations are described that reoccur in the mutable populations. It is speculated that they are recent mutations due to transposition of transposable elements”