Review
Environmental Sciences
Dilnur Tussipkan, Shuga A. Manabayeva
Summary: Soil contamination is a serious environmental problem that poses risks to human health and the ecosystem. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and high concentrations of non-essential heavy metals are global concerns. Phytoremediation, using plants and solar energy, is a green technology for cleaning up pollutants. Alfalfa, with its adaptability and cultivation history, is an ideal plant for remediating contaminated soils. This review provides genomic information on alfalfa, focuses on transgenic plants for enhanced phytoremediation, and discusses future perspectives for improving efficiency.
FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Qingdong Wang, Yaru Zhang, Huafeng Hu, Jinke Hu, Meiling Xiang, QiaoFeng Yang
Summary: Selenite foliar spraying can increase the mass of alfalfa leaves and the content of chlorophyll and selenium. Proteomics analysis revealed significant changes in protein expression, metabolic pathways, and potential mechanisms for increasing leaf yield. Specifically, selenium treatment affects metabolic processes, gene expression, and protein response pathways in alfalfa leaves.
PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maurizio Junior Chiurazzi, Anton Frisgaard Norrevang, Pedro Garcia, Pablo D. Cerdan, Michael Palmgren, Stephan Wenkel
Summary: This article describes two strategies to induce dominant mutations in the M. sativa genome and discusses their relevance in controlling flowering time. The first strategy involves genome engineering using microProteins as developmental regulators, while the second strategy involves inducing point mutations to uncouple gene regulation by microRNAs.
JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Bao Ao, Yangyang Han, Shengsheng Wang, Fan Wu, Jiyu Zhang
Summary: This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the UGT gene family in alfalfa and reveals their expression patterns and functions under drought stress and ABA treatment. The findings are significant for improving drought tolerance and molecular breeding of alfalfa.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jin Ma, Guozhe Zhang, Yacheng Ye, Linxue Shang, Sidan Hong, Qingqing Ma, Yu Zhao, Cuihua Gu
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the resistance of alfalfa to abiotic stresses and analyze the heat shock transcription factors (HSF) gene family in alfalfa. The results showed that the expression of MsHSF genes significantly increased under four abiotic stresses and exhibited tissue-specific expression.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Joana P. Haedo, Lucia C. Martinez, Sofia Graffigna, Hugo J. Marrero, Juan P. Torretta
Summary: The study finds that managed alfalfa leafcutting bees (ALCBs) are highly effective pollinators in alfalfa seed production regions, while honey bees (HBs) show variable effects on pollination service depending on the site. Despite their low abundance, wild bees have a significant impact on reducing pollen limitation.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Huafeng Hu, Jinke Hu, Qingdong Wang, Meiling Xiang, Yaru Zhang
Summary: This study provides data to guide further work on Se-fortification in alfalfa by integrating physio-biochemistry, Se-related metabolites, and transcriptome under Se(IV) treatment.
JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Xia Wang, Wenjuan Kang, Fang Wu, Jiamin Miao, Shangli Shi
Summary: This study used transcriptome profiling to investigate the molecular mechanism of alfalfa adaptation to freezing stress. The results showed that resistance-related genes can enhance freezing tolerance in alfalfa. Additionally, Ca2+ signal transduction and the CBF/DREB1 pathway were found to play a critical role in alleviating damage caused by freezing stress.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Virology
Lev G. Nemchinov, Brian M. Irish, Sam Grinstead, Olga A. Postnikova
Summary: This study conducted initial screenings on alfalfa germplasm accessions and found a wide range of viruses in mature seeds, some of which were not previously considered to be seed-transmitted. These findings will contribute to updating germplasm distribution policies and making decisions on the safety of distributing germplasm based on viral presence.
Review
Cell Biology
Cesar A. Medina, Harpreet Kaur, Ian Ray, Long-Xi Yu
Summary: This paper discusses the challenges of improving agronomic traits in complex crops like alfalfa and potato and proposes the use of genomic selection (GS) to overcome these challenges. By utilizing different statistical models and approaches, such as machine learning and genome-wide association studies (GWAS), researchers were able to increase prediction accuracies for important traits in these crops, ultimately aiding in the selection of superior lines based on genetic values.
Article
Plant Sciences
Andong Yu, Xueqian Jiang, Yan Sun, Qiannan Hu, Xiaoxi Zhu, Junmei Kang, Lin Chen, Lin Liu, Linfeng Hao, Qingchuan Yang, Ruicai Long, Mingna Li
Summary: This study identified 90 UGT genes in alfalfa that are likely related to glycosylation modifications with secondary metabolites. The genes were unevenly distributed and showed specific tissue expression patterns. The study also found that these genes could be induced by phytohormones and flavonoids, indicating their involvement in secondary metabolism.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Shuxia Li, Yuan Wang, Xueqin Gao, Jian Lan, Bingzhe Fu
Summary: Melatonin can promote the growth of alfalfa seedlings under salt stress by increasing photosynthetic capacity and starch content, while decreasing cell membrane damage and ROS accumulation. It enhances salt tolerance in alfalfa by regulating hormone signal transduction pathways and starch/sucrose metabolism pathways.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Pelin Yilmaz Sancar, Azize Demirpolat, Erdal Cacan
Summary: This study aimed to determine the genetic proximity and distances of Medicago saliva species in Turkey and identify phylogenetic interrelationships using sequence analysis information. A molecular systematic study was conducted in Bingol to assess the genetic origins of local alfalfa populations. The genetic mapping of the local alfalfa genotypes was obtained through sequence reading and analysis.
FRESENIUS ENVIRONMENTAL BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Virology
Olga A. A. Postnikova, Brian M. M. Irish, Jonathan Eisenback, Lev G. G. Nemchinov
Summary: We report the occurrence of Snake River alfalfa virus (SRAV) in Washington state, USA. SRAV was recently identified in alfalfa plants and western flower thrips in south-central Idaho, and it is proposed to be the first flavi-like virus identified in a plant host. Based on its prevalence in alfalfa plants, detectable dsRNA, genome structure, presence in alfalfa seeds, and seed-mediated transmission, we argue that SRAV is a persistent new virus distantly resembling members of the family Endornaviridae.
Article
Agronomy
Qiang Zhou, Pei Mao, Dong Luo, Xutian Chai, Hao Deng, Qiangen Fang, Longfa Fang, Zhibiao Nan, Jiangqi Wen, Zhipeng Liu
Summary: In this study, the regulatory mechanisms of lignin synthesis in alfalfa were investigated. The NAC family transcription factor MsNST1 gene was found to play a key role in lignin synthesis. These findings provide a foundation for further research on the molecular mechanisms of lignin synthesis and breeding of low-lignin alfalfa.