Genetics of symbiotic nitrogen fixation and the principles of selection inself-pollinating leguminous cultures exemplified by Pisum sativum L.

The results of the authors' long-term studies and the literature data on th e genetics of symbiotic nitrogen fixation are presented. Using induced symb iotic mutations and pure lines derived from the cultivars, new pea sym gene s were identified and their chromosome localization was established. Most a ttention is paid to the studies of selection-important supernodulating and hypernodulating mutants. A conclusion is made that in selection of legumino us plants for improvement of their symbiotic features, the sources for dono r construction can be isolated form various cultivars as well as from symbi otic and morphological mutants.