Medicago Scutellata Research Articles

Mixtures of Forage Species as Pasture for Dairy Ewes in a Mediterranean Environment

In Sicilian forage systems, the introduction of native self-seeding annual legumes can be beneficial in low-input farming. Intercropping would be a valuable strategy for implementing pasture resources in Sicilian forage systems during late spring. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects on ewes’ milk production of continuous grazing with two different mixtures (i) sulla (Sulla coronarium L.), burr medic (Medicago polymorpha L.), and chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) (SuBuCh); and (ii) barrel medic (Medicago truncatula Gaertn.), snail medic (Medicago scutellata L.), and burr medic (BuSnBa). Twenty lactating ewes were homogeneously divided into four groups of five ewes. Each group was assigned to one of four 1500 m2 grazing sectors consisting of two replicates of SuBuCh and BuSnBa. Ewes fed with the SuBuCh mixture showed higher milk yield, higher protein (5.17 vs. 4.85%, p < 0.001) and casein content (4.02 vs. 3.73%, p < 0.001), lower urea content (37.70 vs. 45.38 mg dL−1, p < 0.001), and better clotting parameters compared to ewes grazing on the BuSnBa mixture. Finally, ewes in the SuBuCh group showed a smaller decrease in live weight at the end of the grazing period compared to BuSnBa ewes (−2.05 vs. −3.55 kg, respectively), although the difference did not reach a significant level. These preliminary one-year results seem to highlight the promising role of SuBuCh intercrop leading to a potential quantitative/qualitative improvement in grazing resources and the productive performance of grazing ewes in a semi-arid Mediterranean environment. However, it is of note that these outcomes might undergo variations when subjected to a prolonged trial extending beyond three years.

Modeling the interactions between inter-correlated variables of plant and soil micro-ecology responses under simultaneous cadmium stress and drought

Cadmium and water stress are considered two important prevalent abiotic stresses which may occur simultaneously in many parts of the world. The occurrence of different stress factors in nature is often simultaneous and the effect of multiple stress factors on living organisms cannot be investigated separately. Although it is essential to evaluate plant and microbial community responses to the combination of different abiotic stresses simultaneously, many scientists have used a single evaluative approach to study the effect of cadmium and/or water stress on the response of plant and/or soil microorganisms. The purpose of this study is to assess the effects of water stress and cadmium together on the development and growth of Medicago scutellata L. and soil biological activity. To investigate potential relationships among inter-correlated variables and comprehend potential mechanisms, predictive regression modeling, principal component analysis, and path analysis were implemented. Considering the outcomes, cadmium at low concentrations stimulates nodule growth and the fungi population. Moderate water stress (50%) decreased the bacteria population while it did not affect the fungi population. The obtained results of this study suggest that soil microsymbiont such as fungi might have a significant role in maintaining (as well as increasing) the nitrogen fixation ability of Medicago under low cadmium stress. Except for the removal rate (0.683), all predictive equation models showed strong linear fitness of the regression models, with adjusted R2 values ranging from 0.838 to 0.987. Based on the path analysis, urease has a significant positive direct effect on phosphatase activity. Due to the high removal rate and bioconcentration factor, M. scutellata can be considered as a potential cadmium hyperaccumulator.

Effects of Different Magnetically Treated Waters on Emergence and Growth of Snail Medic

The present study concerns the effects of different magnetically treated waters (distilled water (as control), domestic water, saline water (-3 MPa), waste water and purified water of Arak city) on emergence and growth of Medicago scutellata (Var. Rabinson) seedlings under greenhouse conditions. The various waters were treated by passing it through 250 mT magnetic fields at flow rate of 2 lit/min. One hundred seeds per treatment were soaked in magnetically-treated waters for 12 hours and cultivated in pots with sand bed. The number of seedlings emerged was counted on daily basis, whereas growth data was measured on the 20th day after planting. Seedlings from exposed seeds to magnetically treated waters showed an improvement of 5-10 percent in the emergence and a 5-14 and 2-16 percent increase in root length and weight, respectively. Dry weight of emerged seedlings in pots by magnetically-treated waters, in comparison with those in untreated pots (control) increased for distilled water (14.4%), domestic water (16.3%), saline water (9.18%), and purified water (2.92%). The results of seedling lengths in the pots of magnetically-treated waters showed that, 5.54, 14.82, 14.67, 13.75, and 14.04 percent increased, respectively. From a practical point of view, it was concluded that could be a promising technique for agricultural improvements.

Straw checkerboard barriers improve soil restoration and mitigate the impacts of drought on Medicago scutellata L.

Straw checkerboard barriers (SCB) are widely employed for ecological restoration of habitats in the arid and semi-arid regions of the world. Through a field experimental study in 2018–2019, we evaluated the environmental effects of SCB with three treatments of border, center and outside the SCB (as the control) on several soil properties such as soil water content (SWC), soil organic carbon (SOC), total N, available P and available K. Furthermore, several key physiological traits of Medicago scutellata including plant height, leaf dry weight, chlorophyll a nd carotenoids, relative water contents, malondialdehyde and proline were measured in order assess growth performance of this plant in response to microhabitat condition provided by SCB. The results showed that SOC, total N, available P and available K significantly increased by 26%, 33%, 52% and 71% respectively, nine months after SCB establishments compared to the control. The SCB reduced water losses from the soil surface and enhance soil moisture retention and resulted in higher rates of growth, CO 2 assimilation, and improved yields. Higher amounts of SWC (18–22%), leaf dry weight (183%), chlorophyll a (96%), chlorophyll b (93%), carotenoid (65%), and relative water contents (21%), were observed for individual of M. scutellata in SCB compared to control. The results also showed that the SCB resulted in the microhabitat modification of soil condition for growth characteristics of M. scutellata , particularly for border of SCB by improving SWC, which may affect nitrogenase activity and nodulation of M. scutellata. The results indicate that the barrier could create a microhabitat with improved factors that suit it for successful establishment, plant recovery and ecological restoration of arid and semi-arid areas. • Establishment of straw checkerboard barriers enhanced water retention in depths of 5, 15 and 25 cm compare to bare soil. • Soil chemical properties were improved in straw checkerboards. • High morpho-physiologic and functional attributes of Medicago scutellata in checkerboard promise for ecological restoration.

The complete chloroplast genome of Medicago scutellata (Fabaceae)

Medicago scutellata (Linnaeus, 1753) is one of the essential leguminous forages distributed across tropical and subtropical regions of the world. In our study, we obtained the complete chloroplast genome of M. scutellata with a length of 124,082 bp. The total GC content of the entire chloroplast genome of M. scutellata was 33.9%. Among the 110 unique genes in the circular genome, 30 tRNA, 4 rRNA, and 76 protein-coding genes were successfully annotated. A phylogenetic tree constructed using common protein-coding genes revealed that M. scutellata is closely related to M. truncatula from the Fabaceae family.

Evaluation of Quantitative and Qualitative of Medicago scutellata Affected by Sowing Date, Sowing Depth, and Seeding Rate

Evaluation of Quantitative and Qualitative of Medicago scutellata Affected by Sowing Date, Sowing Depth, and Seeding Rate

The effect of ploidy number on vigor, productivity, and potential adaptation to climate change in annual Medicago species

AbstractTetraploid plants, including those induced from diploid barrel medic (Medicago truncatula Gaertn.) and the snail medic [Medicago scutellata (L.) Mill.], have the potential to increase vigor and leaf size to improve adaptation to environments with low and variable rainfall in Mediterranean climates. The growth of tetraploid lines induced from barrel medic cultivar Sultan‐SU was evaluated against the diploid parent line and a natural tetraploid snail medic cultivar Sava in field conditions in Adelaide, South Australia. In field conditions, tetraploid lines had up to 106% greater autumn biomass than Sultan‐SU, 58% larger seed weight, and a 127% increase in leaf area. In a controlled environment experiment, snail medic Sava was the only entry to show improved early season (assessed at 6 wk) shoot biomass and canopy cover under short days and low temperatures that were designed to simulate a late start to the growing season. An examination of fresh flower buds showed that the fertility and stability of induced tetraploid lines varied between lines and generations. Hardseed breakdown patterns differed among tetraploid mutant lines, with two lines having much harder seed than Sultan‐SU. Some tetraploid Medicago spp. produced greater early biomass and larger leaves than diploids. Increasing ploidy level provides plant breeders with a promising tool in the development of new cultivars better suited to future climate scenarios.

Iron deficient Medicago scutellata grown in nutrient solution at high pH accumulates and secretes large amounts of flavins

Flavin synthesis and secretion is an integral part of the toolbox of root-borne Fe facilitators used by Strategy I species upon Fe deficiency. The Fe-deficiency responses of the wild legume Medicago scutellata grown in nutrient solution have been studied at two different pH values (5.5 and 7.5). Parameters studied include leaf chlorophyll, nutrient solution pH, concentrations and contents of micronutrients, flavin accumulation in roots, flavin export to the medium, and root ferric chelate reductase and acidification activities. Results show that M. scutellata behaves upon Fe deficiency as a Strategy I species, with a marked capacity for synthesizing flavins (riboflavin and three hydroxylated riboflavin derivatives), which becomes more intense at high pH. Results also show that this species is capable of exporting a large amount of flavins to the external medium, both at pH 5.5 and 7.5. This is the first report of a species having a major flavin secretion at pH 7.5, in contrast with the very low flavin secretion found in other flavin-producing species such as Beta vulgaris and M. truncatula. These results provide further support to the hypothesis that flavin secretion is relevant for Fe acquisition at high pH, and open the possibility to improve the Fe-efficiency responses in legumes of agronomic interest.

Effective Methods for Improving Seed Germination of Medicago scutellata Affected by Salinity and Drought Stresses

Effective Methods for Improving Seed Germination of Medicago scutellata Affected by Salinity and Drought Stresses

Comparing Salt Tolerance at Seedling and Germination Stages in Local Populations of Medicago ciliaris L. to Medicago intertexta L. and Medicago scutellata L.

Salt stress is one of the most serious environmental stressors that affect productivity of salt-sensitive crops. Medicago ciliaris is an annual legume whose adaptation to agroclimatic conditions has not been well described. This study focused on the salinity tolerance of M. ciliaris genotypes compared to M. intertexta and M. scutellata in terms of plant growth, physiology, and biochemistry. Salt tolerance was determined at both germination and early seedling growth. Germination and hydroponic assays were used with exposing seeds to 0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 mM NaCl. Among seven genotypes of M. ciliaris studied, Pop1, 355, and 667, were most salt tolerant. Populations like 355 and 667 showed marked tolerance to salinity at both germination and seedling stages (TI ≤1, SI(FGP) > 0 increased FGP ≥ 20% and SI(DW) < 0 (DW decline ≤ 20%); at 100 mM); while Pop1 was the most salt tolerant one at seedling stages with (TI =1.79, SI(FGP) < 0 decline of FGP ≤ 40% and with increased DW to 79%); at 150 mM NaCl). The genotypes, 306, 773, and M. scutellata, were moderately tolerant to salt stress depending on salt concentration. Our study may be used as an efficient strategy to reveal genetic variation in response to salt stress. This approach allows selection for desirable traits, enabling more efficient applications in breeding methods to achieve stress-tolerant M. ciliaris populations.

Comparison of Foliar and Soil Fe Fertilization on Medicago scutellata Physiological-Biochemical Characteristics and Active Iron in Soils Containing Different Amounts of Lime

Comparison of Foliar and Soil Fe Fertilization on Medicago scutellata Physiological-Biochemical Characteristics and Active Iron in Soils Containing Different Amounts of Lime

Feasibility Study on Reducing Lead and Cadmium Absorption by Alfalfa (Medicago scutellata L.) in a Contaminated Soil Using Nano-Activated Carbon and Natural Based Nano-Zeolite

The first risk posed by heavy metal pollution in an ecosystem is metal accumulation in the biomass of growing plants, which has harmful effects on human health. Natural-based nanoparticles are efficient in remediating environmental pollutants because they have a high surface/volume ratio, high chemical activity and produce no harmful side-products. The present study investigates the capacity of natural-based nano-porous adsorbents for reducing the availability of heavy metals to annual alfalfa (Medicago scutellata L.) roots and keeps them in soil. In a factorial experiment based on a randomized design (with four replications), three nano-adsorbents (nano-activated carbon, natural nano-zeolite and modified nano-zeolite) and two heavy metals (lead and cadmium) have been tested. The results demonstrated that applying the highest rate of activated carbon and modified nano-zeolite reduced shoot Pb content by 34% and 33.2%, and shoot Cd content by 35.5% and 46.7%, respectively, compared with the adsorbent-free control.&#x0D; &#x0D; *********&#x0D; In press - Online First. Article has been peer reviewed, accepted for publication and published online without pagination. It will receive pagination when the issue will be ready for publishing as a complete number (Volume 47, Issue 4, 2019). The article is searchable and citable by Digital Object Identifier (DOI). DOI link will become active after the article will be included in the complete issue.&#x0D; *********

Glutathione supplementation prevents iron deficiency in Medicago scutellata grown in rock sand under different levels of bicarbonate

The effects of root glutathione (GSH) supplementation on leaf chlorophyll, Fe concentrations and contents in leaves, stems and roots, and traits associated to Fe deficiency were studied in Medicago scutellata plants grown in rock sand under conditions of Fe deficiency, in the presence of different concentrations of bicarbonate. Plants were grown in acid-washed rock sand irrigated with a zero Fe solution (pH 7.8 with 0.5 g L−1 CaCO3) or a 45 μM Fe(III)-EDDHA solution (5 mM MES, pH 5.5), with 0, 5 or 15 mM NaHCO3, and 250 mL of 1 mM GSH was added daily to half of the pots. Iron deficiency caused characteristic symptoms in plants, with GSH supplementation relieving them. Glutathione supplementation led to increases in total Fe, chlorophyll and leaf total and extractable Fe, whereas root Fe concentrations decreased. Traits associated to Fe deficiency, including changes in biomass, root morphology, carboxylate contents and antioxidant parameters became less intense with GSH supplementation. Glutathione supplementation allowed plants to take up Fe from the rock sand via a reductive solubilization mechanism. Also, the distribution of Fe within the plant changed, with more Fe being allocated to the shoot tissues and less to the roots.

The phytoremediation effect of Medicago scutellata (L.) Mill. on soils under Cd-water stress: a good choice for contaminated dry lands.

Recently, due to increased drought risks, need for crops with higher water stress tolerance has increased strongly. Those crops have a wide range of uses such as supplying food as well as land restoration. Medicago scutellata (L.) Mill. is a Fabaceae widely cultivated for its capacity to produce high-quality forage. This study was designed as a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design with three replications. Different cadmium levels were the first factor and included 0, 5, 25, 50, 100, and 125 mg kg-1. Second factor was the drought stress, which had three levels (100, 75, and 50% feed consumption). According to the results, Cd uptake in different organs increased with increasing Cd levels up to 100 mg kg-1 while the water stress had a negative effect on Cd uptake by M. scutellata. Average concentration of Cd in the leaves, stems, and roots were 63.16, 30.12, and 20.45 mg kg-1, respectively. The high value of translocation factor (TF) confirms the high ability of M. scutellata in translocation Cd from root to shoot. Fe, Zn, and K concentration of different organs significantly decreased with increasing Cd level. Fe and Zn concentration increased by increasing water stress levels in all organs and K concentration of roots decreased while in leaves and shoots increased by increasing water stress level. These results indicate that M. scutellata has a good ability for eliminating Cd from contaminated soil attribute to its powerful absorption and accumulation for Cd. It also showed a good performance under the co exposure of water stress and Cd indicated by accumulating proline and K in leaves.

Cold-tolerant germplasm identified in annual medics (Medicago spp.) collection of National Plant Gene Bank of Iran

ABSTRACTAnnual medics are feed legumes that can be used as a cover crop or green manure. Species such as Medicago scutellata are sensitive to cold stress. To identify cold-tolerant germplasm, 351 accessions of Iranian annual medics, belonging to 13 species, were evaluated. Growth rate was scored for each accession from autumn to spring. Based on first-year results, M. coronata, M. laciniata, M. littoralis, M. turbinata, and M. scutellata were identified as cold-sensitive species, whereas four species [M. minima (5 accessions), M. noeana (2 accessions), M. rigiduloides (4 accessions), and M. rigidula (5 accessions)] were found to be cold-tolerant and tested further using a randomized complete-block design with three replications. Significant differences (p < 0.01) among accessions for agronomic traits (forage-, seed-, and pod-yield; percentage of green cover) were detected. M. rigiduloides, M. rigidula, M. minima, and M. noeana were cold-tolerant in descending order. Such cold-tolerant accessions can be used in breeding programs to develop cold-tolerant varieties.

Physiological and Structural Modifications in Snail Medic (Medicago scutellata L.) Plants Exposed to Salinity

Seeds of snail medic (Medicago scutellata L.) were assessed for their response to salt at the germination and seedling stages. NaCl at concentrations 86 and 170 mM decreased the final germination percentage. Embryonic axis length, water content and dry weight of embryonic axis and cotyledons were also reduced by salt treatment. Furthermore, 28-d-old plants were grown hydroponically with different NaCl concentrations (0, 86 and 170 mM). After 7 days of treatment, growth, water content and development of the different organs of M. scutellata plant were affected especially at the highest NaCl concentration (170 mM). However, NaCl did not affect root length and the number of stem shoots but reduced stem length and total leaf area. Salt treatment increased markedly the concentration of Na+ in leaf and root tissues while reduced that of K+ only in root and stem tissues. Lipid peroxidation revealed the damage of the membranes of roots and leaves. Moreover, showed a more intense suberization and lignification at the cambial zone of roots of M. scutellata, were observed under the effect of NaCl.

Chromosome investigations in annual Medicago species (Fabaceae) with emphasis on the origin of the polyploid Medicago rugosa and M. scutellata

Chromosome number variations play an important role in the genus Medicago. In addition to polyploidy there are cases of dysploidy as evidenced by two basic numbers, x = 8 and x = 7, the latter limited to five annual species having 2n = 14. Annuals are diploid with the exception of Medicago scutellata and Medicago rugosa which have 2n = 30 and are considered the result of crosses between the 2n = 16 and 2n = 14 species. However, this hypothesis has never been tested. This study was carried out to investigate the 2n = 14 and 2n = 30 karyotypes and verify the allopolyploid origin of M. scutellata and M. rugosa. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) of rDNA probes and genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) were performed. FISH showed that all five diploids with 2n = 14 have one pair of 45S and one pair of 5S rDNA sites. M. scutellata displayed four sites of 45S and four sites of 5S rDNA, while in M. rugosa only one pair of each of these sites was found. GISH did not produce signals useful to identify the presumed progenitors with 14 chromosomes. This result suggests alternative evolutionary pathways, such as the formation of tetraploids (2n = 32) and subsequent dysploidy events leading to the chromosome number reduction.

How cover crop residue management and herbicide rate affect weed management and yield of tomato (Solanum lycopersicon L.) crop

AbstractIn the conventional cropping systems, increased costs and resource pollution are attributed to the intensive use of chemical inputs. The adoption of cover crops could be a part of a suitable strategy for improving the sustainability of the agro-ecosystems due to their ability to affect nutrient and weed management. A 2-yr field experiments were conducted in Gorgan, North of Iran, with the aim of assessing the effect of cover crop residue management and herbicide rates on weed management and the yield of tomato crop. The treatments consisted in: (a) three winter soil management: two cover crops [annual medic (Medicago scutellata L.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)] and no covered soil; (b) two soil tillage (no-tillage, where cover crop residues were left in strips on the soil surface, and conventional tillage, where cover crop residues were green manured at 30 cm of soil depth); and (c) three pre-emergence herbicide rates (no-herbicide application, half rate recommended or full rate recommended ). Cover crops were sown in early September and mechanically suppressed in March about 2 weeks before tomato transplanting. At cover crop suppression, annual medic showed the highest aboveground biomass [569 g m−2 of dry matter (DM)], while barley showed the lowest weed content (32 g m−2 of DM). At tomato harvesting, weed density and aboveground biomass ranged from 6.9 to 61.5 plants m−2 and from 33.6 and 1157.0 g m−2 of DM, respectively. Cover crop residues placed on soil surface suppressed weeds more effectively than incorporated residues, especially in barley, mainly due to the physical barrier of residues which reduced the stimulation of weed germination and establishment. As expected, herbicide rate decreased both weed density and biomass, even if the adoption of annual medic and barley cover crops before the tomato cultivation could allow a possible reduction of herbicide rate while maintaining similar fruit yield. Tomato yield was higher in annual medic than barley and no cover regardless of tillage management (on average 62.3, 51.8 and 50.1 t ha−1 of fresh matter, respectively) probably due to an abundant availability of soil nitrogen throughout the tomato cultivation. This was confirmed by high and constant values of tomato N status grown in annual medic and evaluated using SPAD chlorophyll meter. Although further research of cover crop residue management is required to obtain a better understanding on herbicide rate reduction, these preliminary results could be extended to other vegetable crops which have similar requirements of tomato.

Role of irrigation water, inorganic and organic fertilizers in soil and crop contamination by potentially hazardous elements in intensive farming systems: Case study from Moghan agro-industry, Iran

There is interconnection between soil quality, water quality, and food safety that is necessary to evaluate pollution levels in these components. Soil contamination by potentially hazardous elements may pose direct and indirect threats as negative impacts on the plant growth and yield, entering the human food chain with potentially negative effects on human health. Intensive agriculture (industrial agriculture) in agro-industry could have resulted in an enrichment of potentially hazardous elements in soils and accumulation in crops because of excess use of fertilizers and amendments. Unfortunately, despite these conditions, there were few or no investigations of potentially hazardous elements in farming areas of agro-industry sectors. This research was undertaken in agricultural lands of Moghan agro-industry complex located in the Moghan's plain (as one of the main poles of agriculture) in the north of Ardebil province and west of the Caspian Sea. The present study was designed to investigate the concentrations of Cd and Pb in agricultural soils, irrigation water, Alfalfa and commonly used fertilizers in the agricultural lands of Moghan agro-industry. The results showed that the average concentrations of the Cd and Pb in agricultural soils of Moghan agro-industry complex were 0.55 and 163.60mg·kg−1, respectively. Moreover, the mean concentrations of Cd and Pb were 0.61, and 0.07μg·l−1 in irrigation water samples, respectively, 0.45, and 0.009mg·kg−1 in Alfalfa samples, 0.62 and 51.87mg·kg−1 in superphosphate fertilizer samples, 0.67 and 51.87mg·kg−1 in animal manure samples and 0.001 and 3.66mg·kg−1 in urea fertilizer samples. Superphosphate fertilizer showed higher content of Cd and Pb than urea fertilizer, indicating the importance of phosphate fertilizer on the accumulation of potentially hazardous elements in soils. Based on the results of this research and values of Transfer Factor (TF), it was found that the Alfalfa (Medicago scutellata) had high ability to accumulate cadmium from contaminated soils, but the accumulation rate of Pb was much lower than Cd. Phosphate fertilizer and/or animal manure may be the main sources of contribution by Cd and Pb in the agricultural soils of the study area, but irrigation water had no significant effect on the potentially hazardous elements accumulation in soil.

Effect of different fertilizing and farming systems in annual medic (Medicago scutellata ’Robinson’) on soil organic matter and nutrients status

This experiment was conducted to study the effect of different fertilizing and farming systems in annual medic (Medicago scutellata ‘Robinson’) on soil organic matter and nutrients status. Fertilizing systems consisted of control (no fertilizer), chemical fertilizer, biological fertilizer and integrated fertilizers (different combinations of chemical and biological fertilizing systems). The farming systems included irrigated and dry-farming systems. The experiment was conducted in two experimental sites with diverse climatic and soil conditions in Kermanshah province, Iran, during 2009 growing season. The highest amount of soil organic matter of 1.28 % was observed in integrated fertilizing system of nitrogen-fixing bacteria + phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria. Most of the nitrogen applied through chemical fertilizers was leached out of the plant access, however, application of integrated fertilizer resulted in increasing the concentration of nitrogen in soil because of its slow release and efficient utilization by plants. According to the results of this study it was concluded that the integrated fertilizing system was more successful in dry farming compared to other fertilizing systems.