Salt Tolerance in Alfalfa Landraces of Oman: Characterization and Management

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is the most important legume forage crop in the Sultanate of Oman. Several indigenous alfalfa landraces are being grown in different agro-ecological regions of the country. However, the forage yield is often quite low due to lack of improved cultivars and abiotic stresses like salinity. The alfalfa improvement programs demand characterization of indigenous landraces on physiological, biochemical, molecular and morphological basis under salt stress as well strategy to cope with the salinity. In the proposed study, twenty (20) indigenous alfalfa landraces will be grown in solution culture under three levels of incremental salinity (30 mM, 90 mM, 150 mM). The landraces will be characterized on physiological, biochemical, molecular and morphological basis. Genetic diversity of the landraces included in the study will be evaluated by AFLP markers. Four contrasting genotypes (two salt tolerant and two salt sensitive) will be exposed to ?-amino butyric acid (GABA) at pre-optimized rates, and will be will be grown in solution culture under three levels of incremental salinity (30 mM, 90 mM, 150 mM). The performance of the tested genotypes will be evaluated on physiological, biochemical, molecular and morphological basis. Two salt tolerant genotypes, after exposure to pre-optimized level of GABA will raised under field conditions. Saline water (electrical conductivity of 3 dS m-1, 9 dS m-1, 15 dS m-1) will be applied for irrigation. Data on forage yield and quality will be recorded in addition to physiological, biochemical observations. The findings of the proposed work will be disseminated through field day and a workshop. The proposed project is anticipating useful information for the alfalfa growers to harvest higher yield of better quality and for the researchers working on alfalfa improvement programs.

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is the most important legume forage crop in the Sultanate of Oman. Several indigenous alfalfa landraces are being grown in different agro-ecological regions of the country. However, the forage yield is often quite low due to lack of improved cultivars and abiotic stresses like salinity. The alfalfa improvement programs demand characterization of indigenous landraces on physiological, biochemical, molecular and morphological basis under salt stress as well strategy to cope with the salinity. In the proposed study, twenty (20) indigenous alfalfa landraces will be grown in solution culture under three levels of incremental salinity (30 mM, 90 mM, 150 mM). The landraces will be characterized on physiological, biochemical, molecular and morphological basis. Genetic diversity of the landraces included in the study will be evaluated by AFLP markers. Four contrasting genotypes (two salt tolerant and two salt sensitive) will be exposed to ?-amino butyric acid (GABA) at pre-optimized rates, and will be will be grown in solution culture under three levels of incremental salinity (30 mM, 90 mM, 150 mM). The performance of the tested genotypes will be evaluated on physiological, biochemical, molecular and morphological basis. Two salt tolerant genotypes, after exposure to pre-optimized level of GABA will raised under field conditions. Saline water (electrical conductivity of 3 dS m-1, 9 dS m-1, 15 dS m-1) will be applied for irrigation. Data on forage yield and quality will be recorded in addition to physiological, biochemical observations. The findings of the proposed work will be disseminated through field day and a workshop. The proposed project is anticipating useful information for the alfalfa growers to harvest higher yield of better quality and for the researchers working on alfalfa improvement programs.