MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF MEDITERRANEAN POPULATIONS OF BISERRULA-PELECINUS L

A collection of 29 populations of Biserrula pelecinus L. (biserrula) f rom Italy (Sardinia), Spain, France (Corsica), Morocco and Greece was evaluated in nursery rows at Perth, Western Australia. Fifteen morphol ogical traits were recorded and chromosome numbers of representative p opulations were counted. The quantitative characters were analysed usi ng principal component analysis and k-means clustering. The chromosome number of all accessions was 2n = 2x = 16. In other respects there wa s substantial variation in biserrula collected from the Mediterranean basin, the Moroccan populations in particular being distinct, some wit h strongly curved pods and others with long linear pods. All Greek pop ulations had white flowers and large seeds. Populations from Italy, Fr ance and Spain were similar, with linear pods, blue flowers and smalle r seeds. Most populations From Morocco were early flowering, had large r leaves, longer pods and produced more seeds per plant than other pop ulations. All populations were extremely hard-seeded (>98% hard-seeded after a one-summer exposure on the soil surface). It was concluded th at there is sufficient variation in Mediterranean populations of biser rula to initiate a selection programme for southern Australia, and oth er areas with Mediterranean-type climates, especially for areas where serradella (Ornithopus compressus L.) is adapted. Seed production is f ar easier than for serradella, and this advantage alone offers potenti al for its use in duplex soils where the deep rooting habit of serrade lla gives it an ecological advantage over conventional pasture legumes .