Construction of mutant populations by EMS and phenotypic analysis of Medicago truncatula

Mutants have been used widely to analyze genes function and construct functional genomics study. Many genes were isolated and identified from different mutants of plants. In the present study, the seeds of Medicago truncatula cultivar A17 were treated by EMS and 2 085 of M1 generation and 388 of M2 generation mutants were selected. The mutations with leaf color traits included pigmentation, dark green, variegation, red violet, chloric and albino which count for 5.37% in the mutation populations. The mutations with leaf shape traits included wrinkle, narrow lamina, curly and mixed foliate which count for 3.12% in the mutation populations. The mutations with plant shape traits included taller, dwarf, spreading, sydspor, multi-branch and subramose which count for 9.11% in the mutation populations. The mutations with flowering stage traits included early flower and late flower which count for 1.01%. The total mutant frequency was 18.61% in the M2 population. These mutations provided more germplasm resources for functional genomics study of M. truncatula.