Abstract
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), one of the most important forage legumes in the United States, has been recognized as an aluminum-sensitive species (Kemp-Glass et al., 1993). Hematoxylin staining has been used to evaluate differences in root growth and stain uptake between sensitive and resistant individuals in wheat (Ruiz-Torres et al., 1992). Attention in this study is focused on the hematoxylin staining pattern because the procedure is simple and rapid. Ten alfalfa cultivars were used: `Apollo', `ARC', `Foundation Vemal', `Shenandoah', `Spreador 2', `WL 311', `Saranac', `Saranac AR', `Cimarron', and `Cimarron VR'. Twenty seeds of each were stained in a solution of hematoxylin for 2 days. After staining, the seedlings were transferred to a potting medium for 14 days. After 14 days, plantlets were transferred to Porters soil (pH 4.5, 80% aluminum saturation) and grown in the greenhouse for 60 days. After 60 days, fresh and dry root and shoot weights were taken. Root length densities were determined and these parameters were compared to the tolerance level predicted by hematoxylin stain. Results of stain correlate with biomass at highly significant levels and will be of great use in the development of an acid/aluminum-tolerant alfalfa.
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