Implications of morphological and molecular distinctness on the registration of alfalfa candidate varieties issued by a breeding program: a case study

= 0.94) and no correlation of these distances with those based on morphophysiological traits. Variety registration on the ground of distinctness from the already registered variety could be granted to only four of 10 selections according to morphophysiological distinctness, and to all selections according to molecular distinctness. Our results support molecular distinctness as a sensitive, quick, and inexpensive tool for alfalfa variety registration, forensic analyses, and control of certified seed.