Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is a major forage crop. The genetic progress is slow in this legume species because of its autotetraploidy and allogamy. The genetic structure of this species makes the construction of genetic maps difficult. To reach this objective, and to be able to detect QTLs in segregating populations, we used the available codominant microsatellite markers (SSRs), most of them identified in the model legume Medicago truncatula from EST database. A genetic map was constructed with AFLP and SSR markers using specific mapping procedures for autotetraploids. The tetrasomic inheritance was analysed in an alfalfa mapping population. We have demonstrated that 80% of primer pairs defined on each side of SSR motifs in M. truncatula EST database amplify with the alfalfa DNA. Using a F1 mapping population of 168 individuals produced from the cross of 2 heterozygous parental plants from Magali and Mercedes cultivars, we obtained 599 AFLP markers and 107 SSR loci. All but 3 SSR loci showed a clear tetrasomic inheritance. For most of the SSR loci, the double-reduction was not significant. For the other loci no specific genotypes were produced, so the significant double-reduction could arise from segregation distortion. For each parent, the genetic map contained 8 groups of four homologous chromosomes. The lengths of the maps were 2649 and 3045 cM, with an average distance of 7.6 and 9.0 cM between markers, for Magali and Mercedes parents, respectively. Using only the SSR markers, we built a composite map covering 709 cM. Compared to diploid alfalfa genetic maps, our maps cover about 88–100% of the genome and are close to saturation. The inheritance of the codominant markers (SSR) and the pattern of linkage repulsions between markers within each homology group are consistent with the hypothesis of a tetrasomic meiosis in alfalfa. Except for 2 out of 107 SSR markers, we found a similar order of markers on the chromosomes between the tetraploid alfalfa and M. truncatula genomes indicating a high level of colinearity between these two species. These maps will be a valuable tool for alfalfa breeding and are being used to locate QTLs.

Functional–structural plant models are increasingly being used to analyse relationships between plant functioning and the topological and spatial organisation of their modular structure. In this study, the performance of an individual-based model accounting for the the architecture and population dynamics of forage legumes in multi-species grasslands was assessed. Morphogenetic shoot and root parameters were calibrated for seven widely used species. Other model parameters concerning C and N metabolism were obtained from the literature. The model was evaluated using a series of independent experiments combining the seven species in binary mixtures that were subject to regular defoliation. For all the species, the model could accurately simulate phytomer demography, leaf area dynamics, and root growth under conditions of weak competition. In addition, the plastic changes induced by competition for light and N in terms of plant development, leaf area, N uptake, and total plant biomass were correctly predicted. The different species displayed contrasting sensitivities to defoliation, and the model was able to predict the superior ability of creeping species to sustain regular defoliation. As a result of competition and management, the balance between species changed over time and was strongly dependent on the pair of species used. The model proved able to capture these differences in community dynamics. Overall, the results demonstrate that integrating the individual components of population dynamics in a process-based model can provide good predictive capacity regarding mixtures of cultivated species.