High frequency somatic embryogenesis with a pampeana-derived genotype of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)

Summary Somatic embryos of genotype R11 of the alfalfa variety Pampeana were produced from embryogenic calli derived from leaf sections. They were induced by an auxin shock and its development was attempted on six different media. The best condition for somatic embryo production was inducing callus on MS medium plus 10 M 2,4-D and 4,6 M KIN and transferring them, after the auxin shock, to MS with 10–20 mM NH₄ ⁺ and 30 mM proline. More than 500 somatic embryos per plate were produced. Embryos were grown to plants on MS or half strength MS media and all regenerated plants resembled the original R11 genotype. This technique could be useful in alfalfa Pampeana improvement using genetic modification.     

Selection for increased forage yield in alfalfa at different NaCl levels

Summary Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) forage yield may be reduced by moderate levels of salinity. Increasing forage yield in saline environments through plant breeding could partially ameliorate this problem. However, prior indirect selection either in cell culture, at germination, or during seedling growth has not resulted in agronomically relevant levels of salt tolerance. This study was conducted to determine whether mean forage yield of alfalfa grown in saline environments could be increased. To reduce the number of possible selection schemes, forage yield data for five harvests from Sonora and its parental cultivar African grown in a greenhouse and irrigated with 0, 30, 60, or 80 mM NaCl were used to simulate one cycle of selection at each NaCl environment. Greatest gains in forage yield were expected under non-saline conditions with decreased gains under saline conditions. Selection based on yield in regrowth harvests was also predicted to be more efficient than that based on seedling harvest. Experimental populations were developed from Sonora and African at each NaCl level using phenotypic selection for increased mean forage yield for harvests 3 to 5. After each of two cycles of selection, forage yield from selected, control (plants selected randomly under non-saline conditions), and parental populations was evaluated at 0, 30, 60, and 80 mM NaCl. Gains in forage yield were observed in African when the selection and evaluation environments were the same, but in Sonora this was observed only at 0 NaCl. Selection at 0 NaCl did not increase forage yield at 60 or 80 mM NaCl in either germplasm source. This suggests that selection for increased forage yield may be successful at low to moderate NaCl levels in germplasm with ample variation for yield when grown in saline environments, while selection for increased forage yield in non-saline conditions may be ineffective.     

Breeding alfalfa cultivars resistant to the alfalfa weevil

A ten-year study consisting of nine field experiments was conducted to evaluate alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) for resistance to larval feeding by the alfalfa weevil (Hypera postica Gyllenhal). The results were consistent over years and experiments. Only one source of alfalfa germplasm, designated Starnes, showed resistance to larval feeding in the field under natural infestations of the weevil. The cultivars Team, Arc, and Liberty have been developed from this germplasm source. The only effective method of selection for field resistance to the weevil was field selection under natural weevil infestations. Selection was based on low larval feeding on spaced plants. After six generations of such selection the Starnes germplasm showed only one-third as much defoliation as did the check cultivars. The heritability of the weevil resistance was moderately high. Field resistance was transferred to other strains through hybridization; hybrids were intermediate to the resistant and susceptible parents. Resistance was stable.Laboratory and greenhouse efforts to breed alfalfa weevil resistant alfalfa-using such techniques as adult cotyledon-nonpreference tests, adult leaf-feeding tests, larval-growth and survival tests, oviposition-stimulus tests, and oviposition-nonpreference tests-have failed to produce field resistance.Paper No. 5308 of the Journal series of North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station, Raleigh, N. C., in cooperation wich ARS, USDA. Received 15 June 1977.     

The potential of integrated marketing in increasing adoption of land rehabilitation practices in northwest New South Wales,Australia

Land degradation is a major threat to the productivity of agricultural land in Australia, and on the soils used for growing wheat (Triticum aestivum) soil erosion and fertility decline are serious problems. A study financed jointly by NSW Agriculture, Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) and agribusiness looked at the effectiveness of using integrated marketing to increase adoption of dryland lucerne (Medicago sativa) in rotations in northwestern NSW as a means to rehabilitate degraded wheat soils. At the time of the study, average wheat and protein yields were declining. Integrated marketing, with heavy reliance on television advertising, was run during Summer 1992 and Autumn 1993. Approximately 750 wheat growers, located around Moree in NSW comprised the target group. A similar number of comparable farmers from around Dalby in southern Queensland, who were not exposed to the promotional campaign, formed the control group. Farmers were surveyed by mail just before and 18 months after the campaign. While the results were compounded by severe drought during the study time, as well as by other constraints, the data suggest none the less the value of this approach in getting farmers to change their practices. One in six wheat growers in the target area were aware of the free information kit available via the advertised 1800 number or freepost mail coupon; one in twelve obtained the kit. Television was the most influential media in eliciting a response, followed by the Australian Grain Magazine. The results suggested that the campaign did in fact engender the desired change. The study highlights the possible role integrated marketing may play in rural Australia, whether the subject dealt with is agricultural, environmental or other, not because of any novelty value, but because of the technique itself. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

新疆北部苜蓿耗水规律及灌溉制度研究

通过对苜蓿的需水量、需水时间、灌溉次数等方面的试验对比分析,总结了苜蓿的耗水规律,即在苜蓿生长的幼苗期、分枝期,耗水量依次表现出递增的趋势,开花成熟期则有所下降。同时揭示了苜蓿耗水量与产量的关系,苜蓿产量与需水量之间的关系曲线呈抛物线形式,需水量在较小值时,苜蓿的产量随着需水量的增加而增加,直至到达产量最大值,此后随着需水量的増加产量反而开始下降。结合试验成果和当地荒漠戈壁地的土质结构和性状,初步提出了当地种植苜蓿的灌溉制度,苜蓿收获三茬的灌溉定额为8 040.5m3/hm2,全生育期的灌水次数为15次。     

不同紫花苜蓿品种在黄土高原丘陵区适应性的研究

通过对不同紫花苜蓿品种的地下生物量、地上生物量、叶片中积累的脯氨酸量的对比研究,运用聚类分析法评估了不同紫花苜蓿品种在黄土高原丘陵区的适应性。结果表明,品种间地下生物量、地上生物量和叶片中积累的脯氨酸量差异较大,Ameristand 201和Algonquin的地上生物量显著大于其它7个品种;Ameristand 201和Sandili的地下生物量显著大于其它7个品种,而Ameistand 201叶片中积累的脯氨酸量在同一时期高于其它8个品种。可以看出以某一性状评价9个品种在黄土高原丘陵区的适应性,会得到不同的结果。因此,运用地下生物量、地上生物量、叶片中积累的脯氨酸量3个指标,对参试9个品种经聚类分析,结果显示Ameristand 201和Sandili较其它7个品种在黄土丘陵区的整体适应性较好,适宜大面积种植和推广。