Biotechnological Perspectives of Omics and Genetic Engineering Methods in Alfalfa.

Miroslava Hrbáčková,Ivan Luptovčiak,Tomáš Takáč,Jozef Šamaj,Olga Šamajová,Miroslav Ovečka,Petr Dvořák,Michaela Tichá

doi:10.3389/fpls.2020.00592

Miroslava Hrbáčková, Ivan Luptovčiak + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.00592

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Abstract

For several decades, researchers are working to develop improved major crops with better adaptability and tolerance to environmental stresses. Forage legumes have been widely spread in the world due to their great ecological and economic values. Abiotic and biotic stresses are main factors limiting legume production, however, alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) shows relatively high level of tolerance to drought and salt stress. Efforts focused on alfalfa improvements have led to the release of cultivars with new traits of agronomic importance such as high yield, better stress tolerance or forage quality. Alfalfa has very high nutritional value due to its efficient symbiotic association with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, while deep root system can help to prevent soil water loss in dry lands. The use of modern biotechnology tools is challenging in alfalfa since full genome, unlike to its close relative barrel medic (Medicago truncatula Gaertn.), was not released yet. Identification, isolation, and improvement of genes involved in abiotic or biotic stress response significantly contributed to the progress of our understanding how crop plants cope with these environmental challenges. In this review, we provide an overview of the progress that has been made in high-throughput sequencing, characterization of genes for abiotic or biotic stress tolerance, gene editing, as well as proteomic and metabolomics techniques bearing biotechnological potential for alfalfa improvement.

Highlights

Legumes are important food crops for the exponentially growing population, owing to their micronutrient, macronutrient, and secondary metabolite content (Le et al, 2007)
Medicago sativa L., commonly known as alfalfa or “lucerne,” belongs to Fabaceae, and its first cultivated form most likely originates from western Persia. It spread to many regions in Asia, Europe, and America
The purpose of this review is to provide a perspective on the current state of alfalfa biotechnology research

Summary

Introduction

Legumes are important food crops for the exponentially growing population, owing to their micronutrient, macronutrient, and secondary metabolite content (Le et al, 2007). Some of these organic compounds (e.g., phytoalexins and chitinases) play roles in plant defense against pathogens and pests (He and Dixon, 2000). Fabaceae is one of the most studied plant families, and it has gained high agricultural importance, especially owing to its ability to fix nitrogen in symbiosis with rhizobia (Doyle and Luckow, 2003). Medicago sativa L., commonly known as alfalfa or “lucerne,” belongs to Fabaceae, and its first cultivated form most likely originates from western Persia. Rashmi et al (1997) and Samac and Temple (2004) reported that alfalfa ranks fourth in terms of acreage and economic value, following corn, soybean, and wheat

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