Marcatori cellulari, morfologici e molecolari per lo studio dei sistemi riproduttivi in Medicago spp. e Poa pratensis L.

The investigation of the reproductive system of crop plants has important practical implications since it influences breeding strategies and cultivar constitution. In this paper we deal with the genetic consequences of the various reproductive systems, the cytoembryological mechanisms which characterize amphimictic and apomictic species and the main techniques available to analyze the gametogenesis and embryogenesis processes. In particular, the potentialities of cellular, morphological and molecular markers for studying the mode of reproduction in Poa pratensis L. and the system of union in Medicago spp. are discussed.