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Simple Summary: To develop conservation programs for the taruka (Hippocamelus antisensis d'Orbigny), and to evaluate the impacts that this rare species of deer could have in agricultural areas of the Andean foothills of Tarapacá, we studied the composition of its diet, its relative diversity, and its quality in two contrasting seasons, the wet and the dry season. The main components of its diet were alfalfa, followed by herbaceous dicotyledons and shrub species from rangelands, with the presence of grasses and horticultural crop species being very scarce. The above generates a relatively low dietary diversity, with characteristic traits of a concentrate selector herbivore, which could represent a competitive disadvantage for this species. The quality of the diet was relatively stable; however, during the last stage of pregnancy and the beginning of lactation, protein intake, estimated through fecal nitrogen, could limit these processes. The success of conservation programs for the taruka (Hippocamelus antisensis d'Orbigny), an endemic and endangered deer, depends on many factors, highlighting anthropogenic and ecological effects. Among the latter, how this herbivore interacts with forage resources is important. The objective of the study was to describe the main attributes of the diet of this deer in rangelands adjacent to agricultural areas of the foothills of the Tarapacá Region, Chile. The botanical composition of the diet (BCD) was determined by microhistology of feces and fecal nitrogen (NF, %) was measured in two contrasting seasons (rainy summer and dry winter). From the BCD and FN, their relative diversity (J) and crude protein percentage were estimated. In the BCD, Medicago sativa dominated (27.6 ± 8.2% vs. 53.9 ± 9.2%, in rainy summer and dry end winter, respectively), followed by herbaceous dicots (46.2 ± 9.4% vs. 19.4 ± 8.7%) and shrubby species (21.5 ± 7.8% vs. 23.4 ± 7.0%), from rangelands. The contribution of grasses and graminoid species was low, not exceeding 3% and 0.4% of the diet, respectively, with no differences between seasons of the year. Intake of horticultural crop species was marginal (1.3 ± 1.3%), being detected only in the wet season. Diet relative diversity was higher during the wet period (0.75 ± 0.07) compared to the dry period (0.58 ± 0.06), since in the first period it was possible to find a greater number of palatable species. There were no significant differences in the FN attributed to the time of the year (average of 1.8 ± 0.19%), which indicates that the diet of this deer would be stable in terms of its protein quality. These FN levels estimate sufficient dietary protein content to satisfy maintenance and early pregnancy, but these could be limiting during late gestation and lactation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is one of the most important forage legumes in the world, including autotetraploid (M. sativa ssp. sativa) and diploid alfalfa (M. sativa ssp. caerulea, progenitor of autotetraploid alfalfa). Here, we reported a high‐quality genome of ZW0012 (diploid alfalfa, 769 Mb, contig N50 = 5.5 Mb), which was grouped into the Northern group in population structure analysis, suggesting that our genome assembly filled a major gap among the members of M. sativa complex. During polyploidization, large phenotypic differences occurred between diploids and tetraploids, and the genetic information underlying its massive phenotypic variations remains largely unexplored. Extensive structural variations (SVs) were identified between ZW0012 and XinJiangDaYe (an autotetraploid alfalfa with released genome). We identified 71 ZW0012‐specific PAV genes and 1296 XinJiangDaYe‐specific PAV genes, mainly involved in defence response, cell growth, and photosynthesis. We have verified the positive roles of MsNCR1 (a XinJiangDaYe‐specific PAV gene) in nodulation using an Agrobacterium rhizobia‐mediated transgenic method. We also demonstrated that MsSKIP23_1 and MsFBL23_1 (two XinJiangDaYe‐specific PAV genes) regulated leaf size by transient overexpression and virus‐induced gene silencing analysis. Our study provides a high‐quality reference genome of an important diploid alfalfa germplasm and a valuable resource of variation landscape between diploid and autotetraploid, which will facilitate the functional gene discovery and molecular‐based breeding for the cultivars in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: MsTFL1A is an important gene involved in flowering repression in alfalfa (Medicago sativa) which conditions not only above-ground plant shoot architecture but also root development and growth. Delayed flowering is an important trait for forage species, as it allows harvesting of high-quality forage for a longer time before nutritional values decline due to plant architecture changes related to flowering onset. Despite the relevance of delayed flowering, this trait has not yet been thoroughly exploited in alfalfa. This is mainly due to its complex genetics, sensitivity to inbreeding and to the fact that delayed flowering would be only advantageous if it allowed increased forage quality without compromising seed production. To develop new delayed-flowering varieties, we have characterized the three TERMINAL FLOWERING 1 (TFL1) family of genes in alfalfa: MsTFL1A, MsTFL1B and MsTFL1C. Constitutive expression of MsTFL1A in Arabidopsis caused late flowering and changes in inflorescence architecture, indicating that MsTFL1A is the ortholog of Arabidopsis TFL1. Overexpression of MsTFL1A in alfalfa consistently led to delayed flowering in both controlled and natural field conditions, coupled to an increase in leaf/stem ratio, a common indicator of forage quality. Additionally, overexpression of MsTFL1A reduced root development, reinforcing the role of MsTFL1A not only as a flowering repressor but also as a regulator of root development.We conclude that the precise manipulation of MsTFL1A gene expression may represent a powerful tool to improve alfalfa forage quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are commonly used as silage inoculants. Manganese sulphate (MnSO4) has been proposed to protect certain LAB during oxygen exposure and improve silage aerobic stability (ASTA). The aim of the present study was to assess the efficacy of inoculants in preservation of different forages. A short‐term screening trial investigated the effect of 24 additive treatments, compared to a negative control, on ensiling perennial grass in mini‐silos (2.75 L) for 7 d. The additive treatments comprised different ratios of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum [IMI 507026, IMI 507027, and IMI 507028] and Pediococcus pentacaceus [IMI 507024 and IMI 507025], with or without MnSO4. Target parameters, such as low levels of fresh matter loss, pH, acetic acid, ammonia‐nitrogen fraction (NH3–N/Total N), and high levels of lactic acid and ASTA, were considered for treatment selection. Eight treatments were selected based on a principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering of the target parameters. These selected treatments subsequently underwent a 100 d long‐term trial using lucerne, perennial grass, and perennial grass‐white clover forages. All silages treated with the eight additives exhibited an improved homolactic fermentation and a lower (p <.001) pH, acetic acid, and ethanol content than the control. Although DM losses and ASTA markedly improved in the treatments containing MnSO4 in the short‐term trial, these effects were not observed in the long‐term trial. These outcomes suggest that the selected additives can improve silage fermentation quality across a broad range of forages, but further studies are required to assess the impact of MnSO4 on ASTA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The perennial legume alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is of high value in providing cheap and high-nutritive forages. Due to a lack of tillage during the production period, the soil in which alfalfa grows prunes to become compacted through highly mechanized agriculture. Compaction deteriorates the soil's structure and fertility, leading to compromised alfalfa development and productivity. However, the way alfalfa responses to different levels of soil compaction and the underlying molecular mechanism are still unclear. In this study, we systematically evaluated the effects of gradient compacted soil on the growth of different cultivars of alfalfa, especially the root system architecture, phytohormones and internal gene expression profile alterations. The results showed that alfalfa growth was facilitated by moderate soil compaction, but drastically inhibited when compaction was intensified. The inhibition effect was universal across different cultivars, but with different severity. Transcriptomic and physiological studies revealed that the expression of a set of genes regulating the biosynthesis of lignin and flavonoids was significantly repressed in compaction treated alfalfa roots, and this might have resulted in a modified secondary cell wall and xylem vessel formation. Phytohormones, like ABA, are supposed to play pivotal roles in the regulation of the overall responses. These findings provide directions for the improvement of field soil management in alfalfa production and the molecular breeding of alfalfa germplasm with better soil compaction resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) forage quality is adversely affected by lignin deposition in cell walls at advanced maturity stages. Reducing lignin content through RNA interference or antisense approaches has been shown to improve alfalfa forage quality and digestibility. We employed a multiplex CRISPR/Cas9-mediated geneediting system to reduce lignin content and alter lignin composition in alfalfa by targeting the COUMARATE 3-HYDROXYLASE (MsC3H) gene, which encodes a key enzyme in lignin biosynthesis. Four guide RNAs (gRNAs) targeting the first exon of MsC3H were designed and clustered into a tRNA-gRNA polycistronic system and introduced into tetraploid alfalfa via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Out of 130 transgenic lines, at least 73 lines were confirmed to contain gene-editing events in one or more alleles of MsC3H. Fifty-five lines were selected for lignin content/composition analysis. Amongst these lines, three independent tetra-allelic homozygous lines (Msc3h-013, Msc3h-121, and Msc3h-158) with different mutation events in MsC3H were characterized in detail. Homozygous mutation of MsC3H in these three lines significantly reduced the lignin content and altered lignin composition in stems. Moreover, these lines had significantly lower levels of acid detergent fiber and neutral detergent fiber as well as higher levels of total digestible nutrients, relative feed values, and in vitro true dry matter digestibility. Taken together, these results showed that CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing of MsC3H successfully reduced shoot lignin content, improved digestibility, and nutritional values without sacrificing plant growth and biomass yield. These lines could be used in alfalfa breeding programs to generate elite transgene-free alfalfa cultivars with reduced lignin and improved forage quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study was to explore the effects of different nitrogen fertilizer types on alfalfa growth traits and quality traits in southern Xinjiang. In this study, two alfalfa varieties (WL366 and Bai mu 401) were used as materials, and different nitrogen fertilizer treatment groups were set up, namely control group (CK), urea group (UR), urea ammonium nitrate solution group (UAN), and 40 polymorphic nitrogen fertilizer group (40). The performance and quality characters of alfalfa after different nitrogen fertilizer application were determined. The application effect of different nitrogen fertilizer types was comprehensively evaluated by membership function analysis. The results showed that fertilization had a certain effect on yield and plant height of alfalfa, and could increase the relative feeding value of alfalfa. The comprehensive performance of alfalfa quality was UAN >4()> UR > CK, and 40 polymorphic nitrogen fertilization could significantly increase the yield and plant height of alfalfa. The study indicates that 4() polymorphic nitrogen fertilizer has the best effect on the comprehensive improvement of alfalfa yield and quality in southern Xinjiang. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the four-year field experiment was to determine the effect of the foliar application of auxin, a synthetic growth hormone, used on its own and in combination with various iron concentrations on the yield and forage quality of Medicago× varia T. Martyn, the Kometa cultivar. The research was conducted in three replications at the experimental facility of Siedlce University (52°10'03"N; 22°17'24"E, Poland) between 2014 and 2017. The treatment combinations were as follows: K - control (distilled water); A - indole-3-butyric acid (IBA - synthetic auxin); A+F1 - auxin (indole-3 butyric acid) with iron (II) sulphate (IV) heptahydrate at 3% concentration; A+F2 - auxin (indole-3 butyric acid (IBA)) with iron (II) sulphate heptahydrate at 5% concentration; A+F3 - auxin (indole-3 butyric acid (IBA) with iron (II) sulphate heptahydrate at 7% concentration. Between 2014 and 2017 hybrid alfalfa was harvested at the beginning of the bud stage, three times a growing season. Each growth cycle, plants were sprayed once at the 9-leaf stage. During a harvest 0.5 kg of fresh matter was collected from each plot to determine the content of aboveground dry matter and to perform chemical analyses. The highest yield, 44% higher than for control plants, was noted on the plot treated with auxin applied together with iron sulphate at 5% concentration, and the lowest on the control plot. Foliar application of auxin with iron improved the quality of alfalfa forage, affecting the content of total and digestible protein and crude fibre and dry matter digestibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cold stress (CS) impact on crops is one of the critical constraints for sustainable and smart agricultural production. CS adversely affects plants leading to growth retardation, necrosis, chlorosis, and significant yield loss. The objective of this study was to explore the mechanistic basis of silicon (Si) in enhancing CS tolerance in alfalfa plants. The fluorescence staining indicated that Si-reduced the intensity of CS-induced superoxide radical (O2•–) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) generation in plants that improved plant photosynthesis, cellular integrity, and alfalfa biomass production under CS. The exogenous supplementation of Si significantly restored the endogenous Si status accompanied by the upregulation of NIP (nodulin 26-like intrinsic protein) genes NIP2, NIP5;1, and NIP6;1 in alfalfa. The elemental concentration analysis revealed that exogenous silicon (E-Si) triggers the increase of calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and sulfur (S) in plants subjected to Si-supplementation compared to the plants cultivated without Si under CS. The application of Si significantly increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and glutathione reductase (GR). Furthermore, Si significantly enhanced the expression of CS-responsive candidate genes including ICE1, CBF1/DREB1C, CBF2/DREB1B, CBF3/DREB1A, COR15A, COR47, and KIN1 in alfalfa. These findings together provide mechanistic insights into Si-involving CS tolerance in alfalfa. This eco-friendly SC management strategy using Si treatment can be useful to plant breeders and farmers for developing CS-resilient smart alfalfa production through breeding program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to assess the potential consequences on calf intake, performance, behavior, ruminal microbiome, and ruminal epithelium development of combining the inclusion of chopped barley straw and alfalfa hay during the pre- and postweaning periods keeping concentrate to forage ratio constant among dietary treatments. Forty-five Holstein calves (44 ± 5.7 kg of body weight [BW] and 3 ± 1.5 d of age) individually penned were blocked by BW and randomly assigned to a common pellet concentrate fed ad libitum along with one of following forage feeding strategies: barley straw before and after weaning (S-S), barley straw before and alfalfa hay after weaning (S-A), or alfalfa hay before and after weaning (A-A). All calves received the same milk replacer regimen. Forage was supplied in a separated bucket at the rate of 7.5% (preweaning) and 15% (postweaning) of total solid feed intake of the previous day. Feed intake and BW were recorded daily and weekly, respectively. Rumen samples were obtained via a stomach tube at 53, 66, and 87 d and were composite in 3 samples of 5 animals each for subsequent rumen microbiome analysis. A rumen epithelium sample was taken by endoscopy at 90 d to assess gene expression of OCLN , CLDN4 , SLC9A1 , SLC9A3 , SLC16A1 , SLC16A4 , IL6 , and TGFB1. Data were analyzed with a mixed-effects model accounting for the fixed effects of block, forage, week of study, and their interaction, and calf as a random effect. The type of forage fed did not affect concentrate feed, forage, or total DM intake before weaning. However, S-A and A-A calves consumed less concentrate feed and S-A calves grew at a lower rate after weaning than S-S calves. Expression of the gene coding for SLC16A1 in the rumen epithelium was greatest in S-S among treatments. Rumen microbiome did not differ among treatments, while the relative abundance of Acidaminococcus and Selenomas genera increased, while Alloprevotella , Bifidobaterium , Olsenella , and Succiclasticum genera decreased with age. In conclusion, feeding barley straw before and after weaning was more effective than feeding alfalfa hay in promoting concentrate feed intake after weaning and fostering an increase in the expression of SLC16A1 in the rumen epithelium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Prataculturae Sinica is the property of Acta Prataculturae Sinica Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Awleigatt National Park (ANP) is a zoological site ensuring both the conservation and restoration of biodiversity on a national scale. In this perspective, the ANP has set as one of its ambitious objectives the autonomy in fodder needs. The objective of this work was to study the adaptability of three forage species (Medicago sativa, Acacia senegal and Dolichos lablab) to the edaphic conditions of the NAP. The adopted approach was to characterize three types of representative ANP soil substrates in order to develop an interpolation map of EC conductivity and pH data. Subsequently, the germination behavior of the three species was studied in the laboratory on three substrates taken from the study area (Dune, Dune flank and Interdune) in the absence and presence of NaCl (0, 50 and 100 Mm). The obtained results show that the soils are basic and the electrical conductivity is higher in the inter-dune substrate. The mapping of the study area corroborates the experimentally obtained data. Germination behavior shows that germination is best on dune and dune flank substrates. The addition of high concentrations of NaCl (100mM) shows that Dolichos lablab is the most resistant to salinity. Medicago sativa and Acacia senegal show low germination capacity both in the absence and in the presence of NaCl, most likely reflecting a low embryonic longevity of the seeds used. The parameters deduced from the germination kinetics curve show that the adverse effect of salinity in the three species is observed at all three germination phases (TL, GSS and CG). As a result, the effect of salinity on germination of all three species is both osmotic and toxic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Agronomy Journal is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Cool temperatures can limit productivity of temperate grazing systems as poor pasture growth rates in winter create feed shortages for livestock. Ornithopus spp. (serradella) are broadly adapted annual pasture legumes that produce high-quality forage in soil types considered marginal for other temperate legume species. However, serradella establishment is perceived to be difficult in cool-season environments. We used survival analysis to compare germination rate and seedling emergence for two serradella species (yellow serradella and French serradella) against three reference species (Medicago sativa, M. polymorpha and Trifolium subterraneum) in four temperature treatments (10/5, 15/10, 20/15 and 25/20°C; max/min). We also compared shoot relative growth rate and photosynthetic rate at 15/10°C (cool) and 23/18°C (warm). Cool temperatures (10/5, 15/10°C) did not slow germination rates for serradella relative to the reference species, but warm temperatures (20/15, 25/20°C) delayed emergence and reduced post-emergent shoot growth rates. Once established, Ornithopus spp. had similar mean photosynthetic rates and stomatal conductance at cool temperatures to the reference species.We conclude that, contrary to common perception, cool temperatures did not adversely influence germination, emergence, or early growth of Ornithopus spp. relative to the reference species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to assess the impact of growing condition variables on alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) productivity. A total of 197 alfalfa yield results were acquired from the alfalfa field trials conducted by the South Korean National Agricultural Cooperative Federation or Rural Development Administration between 1983 and 2008. The corresponding climate and soil data were collected from the database of the Korean Meteorological Administration. Twenty-three growing condition variables were developed as explaining variables for alfalfa forage biomass production. Among them, twelve variables were chosen based on the significance of the partial-correlation coefficients or potential agricultural values. The selected partial correlation coefficients between the variables and alfalfa forage biomass ranged from −0.021 to 0.696. The influence of the selected twelve variables on yearly alfalfa production was summarized into three dominant factors through factor analysis. Along with the accumulated temperature variables, the loading scores of the daily mean temperature higher than 25°C were over 0.88 in factor 1. The sunshine duration at temperature between 0°C–25°C was 0.939 in factor 2. Precipitation days were 0.82, which was the greatest in factor 3. Stepwise regression applied with the three dominant factors resulted in the coefficients of factors 1, 2, and 3 for 0.633, 0.485, and 0.115, respectively, and the R-square of the model was 0.602. The environmental conditions limiting alfalfa growth, such as daily temperature higher than 25°C or daily mean temperature affected annual alfalfa production most substantially among the growing condition variables. Therefore, future cultivar selection should consider the capability of alfalfa to be tolerant to extreme summer weather along with biomass production potential.

Food safety and quality are the first steps in the food chain. This work reports a miniaturized, low-cost, and easy-to-use near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) measurement system for alfalfa quality control. This is a significant challenge for dairy farm technicians and producers who need rapid and reliable knowledge of the forage quality on their farms. In most cases, the instrumentation suitable for these specifications is expensive and difficult to operate. The core of the proposed NIR spectroscopy measurement system is Texas Instruments' NIRscan Nano evaluation module (EVM) spectrometer. This module has a large sensing area and high resolution, suitable for forage samples. To evaluate the feasibility of the prototype for analyzing agrifood samples, different ways of presenting the sample, intact or ground, were tested. The final objective of the research is not just to check the efficiency of the proposed system. It is also to determine the characteristics of the measurement system, and how to improve them for alfalfa quality control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Mexicana de Ciencias Agrícolas is the property of Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agricolas y Pecuarias and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a widely grown perennial leguminous forage crop with a number of positive attributes. However, despite its moderate ability to tolerate saline soils, which are increasing in prevalence worldwide, it suffers considerable yield declines under these growth conditions. While a general framework of the cascade of events involved in plant salinity response has been unraveled in recent years, many gaps remain in our understanding of the precise molecular mechanisms involved in this process, particularly in non-model yet economically important species such as alfalfa. Therefore, as a means of further elucidating salinity response mechanisms in this species, we carried out in-depth physiological assessments of M. sativa cv. Beaver, as well as transcriptomic and untargeted metabolomic evaluations of leaf tissues, following extended exposure to salinity (grown for 3–4 weeks under saline treatment) and control conditions. In addition to the substantial growth and photosynthetic reductions observed under salinity treatment, we identified 1233 significant differentially expressed genes between growth conditions, as well as 60 annotated differentially accumulated metabolites. Taken together, our results suggest that changes to cell membranes and walls, cuticular and/or epicuticular waxes, osmoprotectant levels, antioxidant-related metabolic pathways, and the expression of genes encoding ion transporters, protective proteins, and transcription factors are likely involved in alfalfa's salinity response process. Although some of these alterations may contribute to alfalfa's modest salinity resilience, it is feasible that several may be disadvantageous in this context and could therefore provide valuable targets for the further improvement of tolerance to this stress in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intercropping forages with corn can improve cropping system productivity relative to single crop systems. However, limited light resources in 76 cm corn rows may impede successful forage establishment. This study assessed whether the combination of intercropped high value forage cover crops and wider corn rows could result in economically viable crop production systems in the Upper Midwest. A high value forage mixture was interseeded into standing corn at three working farms in the Rice and Goodhue Counties, MN, USA. Treatments were comprised of four row widths: 76 cm with no forage cover crop (best management practices, BMP), 76 cm with a forage cover crop (BMP + CC), 76 cm + CC, and two skip rows every fourth row (Balanced), and 152 cm + CC (WIDE). The WIDE, Balanced, and BMP + CC corn treatment reduced corn yields relative to the 76-cm treatments. However, the forage cover crop yields for all treatments optimized for light resources (Balanced and WIDE) ranged from 945 to 1865 kg ha−1 a forage quality (CP and RFV) equivalent to alfalfa. Our economic analysis revealed that high yielding, quality forage crops can offset up to 12.6% of economic losses caused by grain reductions. Wide-row intercropped systems may be economically viable for producers looking for opportunities to reintegrate their crop and livestock production systems, but further work is needed to refine this system for farm use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: An accession of the annual legume Trigonella balansae Boiss. & Reuter. has been selected for commercial release in Australia. Aims: As part of a duty-of-care assessment, we tested the hypothesis that sheep grazing the trigonella accession will have liveweight, condition scores and wool production similar to those of sheep grazing two widely adopted annual legumes, subterranean clover (subclover, Trifolium subterraneum L. cv. Dalkeith) and French serradella (Ornithopus sativus Brot. cv. Erica). We also hypothesised that sheep grazing the three legumes will have similar meat quality and health, as indicated by blood plasma panel analysis. Methods: Wethers (n = 6) grazed plots (n = 4) of three pasture species. Liveweight, condition scores and wool growth were measured, and a subset of animals were subject to blood sampling to assess health. Consumer sensory taste analysis was used to assess meat eating quality from two sheep per plot. Forage biomass, dry-matter digestibility, crude protein, fibre, mineral content and isoflavones were measured across the plant's lifecycle. Key results: There were no significant differences in liveweight, wool growth, wool yield or condition score that were associated with pasture species during the grazing period. There were differences in dry-matter digestibility, minerals and crude protein content of the pastures over time. As trigonella matured, it did not meet the minimum sulfur, phosphorus, manganese, molybdenum and copper requirements for mature sheep. We found some differences in indications of animal health; however, there were no significant systematic detrimental differences between sheep grazing trigonella and the other two species. In total, 2 of 24 individual sheep grazing trigonella had more than two plasma indicators of liver damage. There were no differences in meat tenderness, juiciness, flavour and overall consumer acceptability. Conclusions: The data supported the hypotheses. Under the conditions of this experiment, the pasture legumes had the same relative feeding value. Some care must be taken in interpreting the outcome as the trigonellacomprised only 18% of the dry matter on offer at the termination of grazing. Implications: Results of this study will be considered during the commercialisation process for T. balansae. Trigonella balansae is a novel species that is being domesticated for use in Australian pasture systems. As part of a duty of care experiment, we compared productivity, health and meat quality of sheep grazing the novel Trigonella accession with sheep grazing French serradella and subterranean clover. While there were some differences in pasture composition, plant nutritional value and animal health, Trigonella did not vary significantly from other species in terms of feeding value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measuring forage mass (FM) in the pasture, prior to grazing, is critical to determining the daily allocation of forage in pastoral animal production systems. FM is estimated by cutting forage in known areas, using allometric equations, or with the use of remote sensors (RS); however, the accuracy and practicality of the different methods for estimating FM is variable. The objective was to obtain predictive models using environmental and pasture management variables to predict FM. Regression models were fitted to estimate FM based on variables of pasture management (PM) or measurements obtained by RS, such as reflectance, air temperature, and rainfall. A mixed pasture grazed by beef cattle was studied for three years. With 80 % of data, models were built by ordinary least squares (OLS) or by machine learning (ML) algorithms. The remaining 20 % of the data was used to validate the models using the coefficient of determination and average bias between estimated and observed values. The base model of study was the relationship between pasture height before grazing and FM, this model was fitted using OLS; the r² was 0.43. When models that included PM variables were fitted, the r² was 0.45 for OLS and 0.63 for ML. When fitting models with PM and RS variables, the r² was 0.71 for OLS and 0.96 for ML. ML-fitted model ensembles reduced the bias of FM estimates of the examined pasture. Overall, ML models better represented the relationship between pasture height before grazing and FM than OLS models, when fitted with pasture management variables and RS information. ML models can be used as a tool for daily decision-making in pastoral production systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Colombia, poultry production is an important source of food, providing protein of good quality animal origin such as eggs and meat; however, due to the high costs of concentrates, the need to search for food alternatives has been generated. The objective of this work was to determine the effect of the consumption of green forages of Alfalfa (Medicago sativa), Mulberry (Morus alba) and Buttercup (Tithonia diversifolia) in productive parameters and egg quality. Four treatments were established with a base feed of commercial balanced concentrate and water ad libitum; T1: supplementation with Alfalfa, T2: with Mulberry, T3: Buttercup and T4: control group. The parameters evaluated were weight, percentage of laying, feed consumption, egg weight, pigmentation and weight of the yolk, weight and density of albumin, weight and thickness of the shell and Haugh units. The T2 birds showed statistically significant differences (p<0,05) in body weight in the first study interval and in yolk pigmentation in the three intervals with slightly higher values. Mulberry supplementation significantly improves bud pigmentation without negatively affecting productive parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of the Selva Andina Animal Science is the property of Fundacion Selva Andina Research Society and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) can dwell in water-deficient habitats, where it is difficult to predict dry mass (DM) production and forage quality due to understory transmittance. Mowing is a recommended practice for alfalfa populations under drought, but its effect on forested land receives less attention. In a controlled indoor experiment, we found that drought better reduces shoot DM weight and crude fiber content (CFi) in blue light (33.7% red, 48.5% green, and 17.8% blue lights) than red light (71.7% red, 13.7% green, and 14.6% blue lights). Mowing decreases carbon (C) isotope signature (δ13C), CFi, and total C content in shoots but increases their accumulations in DM, nonstructural carbohydrates, and crude fat content (CFa). The results also demonstrated that mown alfalfa has higher starch content when exposed to green light (26.2% red, 56.4% green, and 17.4% blue lights) compared to the other two spectra. Multiple factorial regression indicated that higher soluble sugar content accounted for the increase of CFa and DM weight for CFi. Overall, mowing in blue-light-enriched understory stands is recommended and produces high-forage-quality alfalfa, which can be used as a lowered crude fiber component. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study was to characterize the goat production units of the central mountain area of the state of Veracruz, Mexico. Disign/methodology/approach: A multiple case study was carried out taking into consideration socioeconomic aspects, type of forage, goat feeding, reproduction, improvement, and health. Results: The results showed that goat and cheese production account for 50-100% of the producers' income. The forages grown and the type of goat feed used in the production units of the mountain area are: King grass, CT-115, maralfalfa, giant star grass, alfalfa, and corn. Animal reproduction is carried out by controlled mating and births take place at the beginning and end of each year. Flocks do not exceed 150 heads; the predominant breeds are Saanen and Alpine. The average daily production of milk ranges from 16 to 90 L, with a production of 0.75-3 L milk animal-1 day-1. Study limitations/implications: None Findings/conclusions: The activity is family-based and involves cultivation, animal management, and milk and artisanal cheese production. Further studies are required to confirm individual milk production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study was carried out to investigate the nutrient compositions of alfalfa, tall fescue and tall fescue + alfalfa mixed grassland under different mowing stubble times and clarify their correlation with in vitro digestibility. In vitro dry matter digestibility of alfalfa, tall fescue and tall fescue + alfalfa were predicted by their nutrient composition respectively. The results demonstrated that these models based on nutrient composition could accurately predict the in vitro dry matter digestibility of alfalfa monoculture, tall fescue monoculture and alfalfa + tall fescue mixture, respectively, and provide a forage utilization mode for sown pasture. Mowing, Mowing, which affects the nutritional levels of grasslands, is the main utilization of sown pasture. We sowed alfalfa monoculture grassland, tall fescue monoculture grassland and tall fescue + alfalfa mixed grassland in typical steppe of the Loess Plateau to investigate the nutrient compositions and in vitro degradability of those three grasslands under different mowing stubble times and to provide reference for nutrient management of sown pastures. The results showed that the stubble time significantly affected (p < 0.05) the nutrient compositions and mineral elements of forages in alfalfa monoculture grassland, whereas had no effects on the nutrient compositions and dry matter digestibility of forages in tall fescue monoculture grassland and alfalfa + tall fescue mixed grassland. The relative feeding value of mixed grassland of alfalfa and tall fescue was increased by 2.6–22.4% as compared to monoculture grasslands. The model constructed based on forage nutrient content could accurately predict the forage dry matter degradability of alfalfa monoculture, tall fescue monoculture and mixed alfalfa and tall fescue, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is one of the most important legume forage species in the world. It is often affected by several abiotic stressors that result in reduced yields and poor growth. Therefore, it is crucial to study the resistance of M. sativa to abiotic stresses. Heat shock transcription factors (HSF) are key players in a number of transcriptional regulatory pathways. These pathways play an essential role in controlling how plants react to different abiotic stressors. Studies on the HSF gene family have been reported in many species but have not yet undergone a thorough analysis in M. sativa. Therefore, in order to identify a more comprehensive set of HSF genes, from the genomic data, we identified 16 members of the MsHSF gene, which were unevenly distributed over six chromosomes. We also looked at their gene architectures and protein motifs, and phylogenetic analysis allowed us to divide them into 3 groups with a total of 15 subgroups. Along with these aspects, we then examined the physicochemical properties, subcellular localization, synteny analysis, GO annotation and enrichment, and protein interaction networks of amino acids. Finally, the analysis of 16 MsHSF genes' expression levels across all tissues and under four abiotic stresses using publicly available RNA-Seq data revealed that these genes had significant tissue-specific expression. Moreover, the expression of most MsHSF genes increased dramatically under abiotic stress, further validating the critical function played by the MsHSF gene family in abiotic stress. These results provided basic information about MsHSF gene family and laid a foundation for further study on the biological role of MsHSF gene in response to stress in M. sativa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High quality of hay or silage can be obtained by monitoring the moisture level at mowing or harvest time to reduce the losses of yield and nutrients and preserve feeds in the long term. Mechanical conditioning is one of the most common ways to increase the rate of water loss from forage during drying. Near Infrared (NIR) spectroscopy is a good alternative to the classical gravimetric method to timely provide information on forage moisture content. The aim of this work was to evaluate the potential of in-field Vis/NIR hyperspectral imaging combined with chemometric tools to monitor alfalfa parameters after conditioning. Partial LeastSquares Discriminant Analysis (PLSDA) models were developed to discriminate samples according to several operative conditions (level of conditioning, field type, time after conditioning, and time of day) and yielded good discrimination power (mean sensitivity = 87%, mean probability = 89%). Moisture content was estimated by Partial LeastSquares (PLS) models obtaining determination coefficient (R2) = 0.86 and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) = 2.00% (external validation). The number of spectral bands was reduced by using the Variable Importance in Projection (VIP) method, passing from 272 to 74 bands. Further PLS models were built considering the reduced variable numbers and achieved comparable results to those obtained with the full spectra, demonstrating that reduction of the number of variables did not affect the goodness of the models. Finally, the best PLS model was applied to each pixel of the hyperspectral images to obtain false colour images. Pixels having similar colours were characterized by comparable moisture content. The models developed may be useful to determine moisture content of alfalfa remotely and in real-time during mowing or harvest procedures. • Quality of alfalfa after cutting was evaluated. • In-field Vis/NIR hyperspectral imaging was used. • Regression models to predict moisture content were developed. • The samples were discriminated according to several operative parameters. • The models could be used remotely or in real-time during mowing or harvest procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The United States is the largest producer of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) however there is still a wide variation in yield among states. Potassium (K) is one of the key plant macronutrients that affect alfalfa yield and stand persistence. To the best of our knowledge, the evaluation of K rates on alfalfa forage yield and quality attributes at different harvesting intervals has not been studied in the United States. Thus, the main objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of K rates along with harvesting intervals (HI) and varieties on alfalfa dry matter yield (DMY), forage nutritive value, and soil K content. The experiment was carried out in a split-split plot with two HI (28 and 35-day after the first cut), two varieties (Hi-Gest 360: reduced-lignin and AFX 457: conventional), and four K application rates (0, 56, 112, and 168 kg K2O ha-1) in a randomized complete block with four replications. The results indicated that harvesting alfalfa at shorter interval (28-day) resulted in higher dry matter yield and forage nutritive value than a longer harvest interval (35-day). Yield, nutritive values, and soil K content were, however, not significantly influenced by alfalfa variety and K rates. Further research is essential to quantify the actual trade-off between applied K and soil and plant K content in alfalfa production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cinnamoyl-CoA reductase (CCR) is a pivotal enzyme in plant lignin synthesis, which has a role in plant secondary cell wall development and environmental stress defense. Alfalfa is a predominant legume forage with excellent quality, but the lignin content negatively affects fodder digestibility. Currently, there is limited information on CCR characteristics, gene expression, and its role in lignin metabolism in alfalfa. In this study, we identified 30 members in the CCR gene family of Medicago sativa. In addition, gene structure, conserved motif, and evolution analysis suggested MsCCR1–7 presumably functioned as CCR, while the 23 MsCCR-likes fell into three categories. The expression patterns of MsCCRs/MsCCR-likes suggested their role in plant development, response to environmental stresses, and phytohormone treatment. These results were consistent with the cis-elements in their promoters. Histochemical staining showed that lignin accumulation gradually deepened with the development, which was consistent with gene expression results. Furthermore, recombinant MsCCR1 and MsCCR-like1 were purified and the kinetic parameters were tested under four substrates. In addition, three-dimensional structure models of MsCCR1 and MsCCR-like1 proteins showed the difference in the substrate-binding motif H212(X)2K215R263. These results will be useful for further application for legume forage quality modification and biofuels industry engineering in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this work was to assess the effects of phenological stage, wilting and a microbial inoculant on chemical composition, organic acids concentration and ruminal degradability of dry matter (DMRD) of alfalfa silage. The pasture was cut in two phenological stages: 10 % (F10) and 50 % (F50) of flowering, and the material was divided into two fractions: with wilting (W) and without wilting (NW). Each fraction was chopped and sprayed with an inoculant (Lactobacillus plantarum, 5 × 109 viable cells/g, I) or with distilled water (no inoculant, NI) and ensiled in PVC microsilos, with 6 replications per treatment. After 90 days, pH, dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF), DMRD at 30 h, acetic (C2), propionic (C3), butyric (C4) and lactic (LA) acids were determined. The wilting process decreased pH, NH3-N, NDF and ADF, and increased CP of the silage. In F10, wilting decreased the concentration of C2, C3 and C4, and increased LA. In F50, wilting decreased the C2 concentration at the two levels of inoculant, and only when inoculant was not applied, wilting decreased C3 and C4, and increased LA. In F50-NW the application of inoculant decreased the content of C2, C3 and C4, and increased LA. The DMRD of W was higher than NW, and it was higher in F10 vs F50 only when wilting was applied. The inoculant application decreased the NDF content, and in F50 it decreased NH3-N level. It can be concluded that the use of wilting improves the nutritional quality of alfalfa silage, while the effect of L. plantarum is limited to some combinations of treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acacia is the largest genus of flowering plants in Australia, occurring in all terrestrial habitats. Black acacia (Acacia mearnsii De Wild) is adapted to different geographical areas of the world. Its forage can be used in the feeding of ruminants using different alternatives (hay, silage, silvopasture, protein bank, meal or fresh forage) to reduce costs of low and mediumscale livestock farming. The present work is a descriptive-analytical review of the available scientific literature with the purpose of contributing to the update on the potential of Acacia negra as feed for ruminants. The methodology consisted in the compilation of scientific articles and publications of scientific, academic and technological institutions on the object of study. The results focused on: Origin and distribution, Taxonomy and plant characteristics, Crop characteristics, Forage production, Nutritive value and Effects of forage consumption in ruminants. The review concluded that A. mearnsii adapts to diverse ecosystems and under low-input conditions shows rapid growth and acceptable forage production, which, together with its protein content, make it an option for small and medium producers. This allows lowering production costs by reducing the consumption of concentrates or alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), without affecting production yields, mainly due to its high tannin content (main secondary metabolite), which favors the flow of amino acids from the diet from the rumen to the duodenum, among other beneficial effects on animal health and reproduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of the inclusion of two forages with different fiber composition on the apparent digestibility of the nutrients and the nitrogen retention of diets offered to pigs in three physiological states was evaluated. For this, nine animals were used, castrated males in a sequence of three in vivo digestibility tests, each test corresponding to a weight phase. The treatments were: control base diet (T0) formulated based on corn and soybean meal; base diet with alfalfa (T1) (Medicago sativa var. Chaná) or with chicory (T2) (Cichorium intybus var. Lacerta) for phases (F) of rearing I (F1, 40-60 kg of LW), rearing II (F2, 60-80 kg of LW) and termination (F3, 80 to 100 kg of LW). The design was repeated measures using Ar (1) and a significance level of 5%. There was no reduction in digestive fiber utilization when forage was offered continuously up to the 30% inclusion level for finishing animals. The increased fiber level in forage diets resulted in an increase in fecal N excretion, while there was no effect on urinary N excretion and apparent N retention. The data obtained support the claim that it may be economically feasible for small-scale pig farmers to use low-cost, available high-fiber feed ingredients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a widely grown perennial leguminous forage crop with a number of positive attributes. However, despite its moderate ability to tolerate saline soils, which are increasing in prevalence worldwide, it suffers considerable yield declines under these growth conditions. While a general framework of the cascade of events involved in plant salinity response has been unraveled in recent years, many gaps remain in our understanding of the precise molecular mechanisms involved in this process, particularly in non-model yet economically important species such as alfalfa. Therefore, as a means of further elucidating salinity response mechanisms in this species, we carried out in-depth physiological assessments of M. sativa cv. Beaver, as well as transcriptomic and untargeted metabolomic evaluations of leaf tissues, following extended exposure to salinity (grown for 3–4 weeks under saline treatment) and control conditions. In addition to the substantial growth and photosynthetic reductions observed under salinity treatment, we identified 1233 significant differentially expressed genes between growth conditions, as well as 60 annotated differentially accumulated metabolites. Taken together, our results suggest that changes to cell membranes and walls, cuticular and/or epicuticular waxes, osmoprotectant levels, antioxidant-related metabolic pathways, and the expression of genes encoding ion transporters, protective proteins, and transcription factors are likely involved in alfalfa’s salinity response process. Although some of these alterations may contribute to alfalfa’s modest salinity resilience, it is feasible that several may be disadvantageous in this context and could therefore provide valuable targets for the further improvement of tolerance to this stress in the future.

Background: SQUAMOSA promoter-binding protein-like (SPL) transcription factors are widely present in plants and are involved in signal transduction, the stress response and development. The SPL gene family has been characterized in several model species, such as A. thaliana and G. max. However, there is no in-depth analysis of the SPL gene family in forage, especially alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), one of the most important forage crops worldwide. Result: In total, 76 putative MsSPL genes were identified in the alfalfa genome with an uneven distribution. Based on their identity and gene structure, these MsSPLs were divided into eight phylogenetic groups. Seventy-three MsSPL gene pairs arose from segmental duplication events, and the MsSPLs on the four subgenomes of individual chromosomes displayed high collinearity with the corresponding M. truncatula genome. The prediction of the cis-elements in the promoter regions of the MsSPLs detected two copies of ABA (abscisic acid)-responsive elements (ABREs) on average, implying their potential involvement in alfalfa adaptation to adverse environments. The transcriptome sequencing of MsSPLs in roots and leaves revealed that 54 MsSPLs were expressed in both tissues. Upon salt treatment, three MsSPLs (MsSPL17, MsSPL23 and MsSPL36) were significantly regulated, and the transcription level of MsSPL36 in leaves was repressed to 46.6% of the control level. Conclusion: In this study, based on sequence homology, we identified 76 SPL genes in the alfalfa. The SPLs with high identity shared similar gene structures and motifs. In total, 71.1% (54 of 76) of the MsSPLs were expressed in both roots and leaves, and the majority (74.1%) preferred underground tissues to aerial tissues. MsSPL36 in leaves was significantly repressed under salt stress. These findings provide comprehensive information regarding the SPB-box gene family for improve alfalfa tolerance to high salinity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work was conducted to evaluate the phenotypic and phylogenetic diversity of 48 rhizobial strains. All rhizobial strains exhibited a broad tolerance to salinity and pH. In general, they grew well at 28°C and 37°C but poorly at 4°C and 45°C. The rhizobial strains showed an array of antibiotic sensitivity patterns. The numerical (UPGMA) analysis of phenotypic traits and the phylogenetic tree of concatenated housekeeping genes produced highly similar results. Phylogenetic analysis of recA and glnII showed that all the isolates were affiliated to the genus Sinorhizobium, but belong to two distinct groups: Group I, originating in Ghardaïa, was close to the species S. meliloti and S. kummerowiae. Group II, originating in Ouargla and El Oued, clustered separately from sequences of known Sinorhizobium species, which suggests they could be a new lineage. The classifications resulting from the nodC gene reflect host specificity, while phylogeny based on chromosomal genes is independent of the host plant. Based on the studies documented in the literature, the genetically characterized rhizobial strains can be used as an effective inoculant for the improvement of forage yields in Saharan regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Arid Zone Research / Ganhanqu Yanjiu is the property of Arid Zone Research Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The study of crop dispersal and their cultivation technique communication can provide a valuable insight into the history of cultural exchange in ancient Eurasia. Previous studies have focused predominantly on the cereals, with few being carried out on fruit, vegetable and forage crops. This paper reports on legume remains found at three tombs of the Astana Cemetery, Turpan, Xinjiang, which dated to the Jin and Tang dynasties (about third to ninth centuries). The exceptional state of preservation of the desiccated remains allowed their unambiguous determination to species level. By comparing the morphological characteristics of the Medicago remains with published references, they were ascribed to Medicago sativa and Medicago lupulina. This is the first archaeobotanical evidence of M. lupulina in China and the earliest relevant physical material so far found. In addition, combined with the record of unearthed documents, our study shed new light on the early history of M. sativa cultivation and use in Turpan and further underlined its important role in cultural exchange between the West and the East in antiquity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In plants, the leaf is an essential photosynthetic organ, and is the primary harvest in forage crops such as alfalfa (Medicago sativa). Premature leaf senescence caused by environmental stress can result in significant yield loss and quality reduction. Therefore, the stay-green trait is important for improving the economic value of forage crops. Alkaline stress can severely damage leaf cells and, consequently, cause leaf senescence. To understand the molecular regulatory mechanisms and identify vital senescence-associated genes under alkaline stress, we used high-throughput sequencing to study transcriptional changes in Medicago truncatula , a model plant for forage crops. We identified 2,165 differentially expressed genes, 985 of which were identical to those in the dark-induced leaf senescence group. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses showed that the 985 genes were mainly enriched in nutrient cycling processes such as cellular amino acid metabolic processes and organic substance catabolic processes, indicating nutrient redistribution. The other 1,180 differentially expressed genes were significantly enriched in the oxidoreductase complex, aerobic respiration, and ion transport. Our analysis showed the two gene sets guiding the coupled physiological and biochemical alterations play different roles under alkaline stress with a coordinated and integrated way. Many transcription factor families were identified from these differentially expressed genes, including MYB , WRKY , bHLH , and NAC which have particular preference involved in stress resistance and regulation of senescence. Our results contribute to the exploration of the molecular regulatory mechanisms of leaf senescence in M. truncatula under alkaline stress and provide new candidate genes for future breeding to improve the biomass and quality of forage crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Prataculturae Sinica is the property of Acta Prataculturae Sinica Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Grazing animals act as a bioindicator to study the heavy metal status in the pasture lands because excessive amount of toxic metals in the animal diet either disturb their normal activity or deposit the contaminants into their tissues. The aim of this study was to appraise the chromium status in soil and pasture crops with respect to the nutritional requirement of grazing animals. Three different sites were selected to collect soil, forages, and animal samples from District Jhang. All the samples were processed through atomic absorption spectrophotometer to analyze the chromium concentration in them. Chromium concentration was varied as 0.703–4.20 mg/kg in soil, 0.45–2.85 mg/kg in forages, and 0.588–2.37 mg/kg in all collected animal samples. Both the soil and forage samples displayed the maximum chromium concentration in the Capparis decidua, whereas animal samples revealed maximum concentration in animal blood. Results of pollution load index (0.078 to 0.463 mg/kg) exhibited that all the sample values are less than unity while enrichment factor (1.57–8.25mg/kg) showed that significant level of chromium is enriched in these sites. The maximum value of daily intake (0.0007–0.0055mg/kg/day) and health risk index (0.0004–0.00370055mg/kg/day) was observed in the buffalo that feed on the Capparis decidua. Bio-concentration factor (0.398–2.09mg/kg) value was the maximum in the Medicago sativa. It is concluded that all the animal samples showed chromium concentration beyond their standards. Thus, proper measures should be taken to reduce the metal contamination in these areas that ultimately lessen the availability of toxic metals to grazing animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is the most widely grown perennial leguminous forage and is an essential component of the livestock industry. Previously, the RNAi-mediated down-regulation of alfalfa SQUAMOSA PROMOTER-BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE 8 (MsSPL8) was found to lead to increased branching, regrowth and biomass, as well as enhanced drought tolerance. In this study, we aimed to further characterize the function of MsSPL8 in alfalfa using CRISPR/Cas9-induced mutations in this gene. We successfully generated alfalfa genotypes with small insertions/deletions (indels) at the target site in up to three of four MsSPL8 alleles in the first generation. The efficiency of editing appeared to be tightly linked to the particular gRNA used. The resulting genotypes displayed consistent morphological alterations, even with the presence of up to two wild-type MsSPL8 alleles, including reduced leaf size and early flowering. Other phenotypic effects appeared to be dependent upon mutational dosage, with those plants with the highest number of mutated MsSPL8 alleles also exhibiting significant decreases in internode length, plant height, shoot and root biomass, and root length. Furthermore, MsSPL8 mutants displayed improvements in their ability to withstand water-deficit compared to empty vector control genotypes. Taken together, our findings suggest that allelic mutational dosage can elicit phenotypic gradients in alfalfa, and discrepancies may exist in terms of MsSPL8 function between alfalfa genotypes, growth conditions, or specific alleles. In addition, our results provide the foundation for further research exploring drought tolerance mechanisms in a forage crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective and practical measurement methods for assessing field inoculation experiments are needed to identify inoculants that could improve lucerne establishment. In this study, assessment potential of different existing measurement methods (plant height, Dualex 4 Scientific leaf-clip meter, GreenSeeker handheld crop sensor, drone-acquired orthomosaic calculation, yield, nutrient analysis and nodule assessment) were compared across 12 inoculation treatments applied to lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) at 3 sites. F-values were used to compare the potential of different methods to separate inoculation treatments. The handheld GreenSeeker measuring normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) showed the greatest potential for separating inoculation treatments in fields where lucerne had not previously been cultivated, followed by visible atmospherically resistant index (VARI) and green-red vegetation index (GRVI) from drone-acquired orthomosaics. These methods are non-destructive, low cost, require low labour input, fast, and do not require sample preparation, and thus are efficient measurement methods for disaggregating treatments in field inoculation experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of remote sensing in plant breeding is becoming a routine method for fast and non-destructive high-throughput phenotyping (HTP) using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with sensors. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a perennial forage legume grown in more than 30 million hectares worldwide. Breeding alfalfa for herbage accumulation (HA) requires frequent and multiple phenotyping efforts, which is laborious and costly. The objective of this study was to assess the efficiency of UAV-based imagery and spatial analysis in the selection of alfalfa for HA. The alfalfa breeding population was composed of 145 full-sib and 34 half-sib families, and the experimental design was a row-column with augmented representation of controls. The experiment was established in November 2017, and HA was harvested four times between August 2018 and January 2019. A UAV equipped with a multispectral camera was used for HTP before each harvest. Four vegetation indices (VIs) were calculated from the UAV-based images: NDVI, NDRE, GNDVI, and GRVI. All VIs showed a high correlation with HA, and VIs predicted HA with moderate accuracy. HA and NDVI were used for further analyses to calculate the genetic parameters using linear mixed models. The spatial analysis had a significant effect in both dimensions (rows and columns) for HA and NDVI, resulting in improvements in the estimation of genetic parameters. Univariate models for NDVI and HA, and bivariate models, were fit to predict family performance for scenarios with various levels of HA data (simulated in silico by assigning missing values to full dataset). The bivariate models provided higher correlation among predicted values, higher coincidence for selection, and higher genetic gain even for scenarios with only 30% of HA data. Hence, HTP is a reliable and efficient method to aid alfalfa phenotyping to improve HA. Additionally, the use of spatial analysis can also improve the accuracy of selection in breeding trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is an important perennial forage crop with great economic value, owing to its high biomass yield and quality forage, wide adaptability to different environments, and nitrogen fixation capacity. Drought stress is one of the major environmental factors limiting alfalfa growth and productivity worldwide. With the expected increase in intensity and frequency of drought events, it is important to understand alfalfa's responses and identify efficient approaches for alleviating drought stress-induced damage to yield and quality. In an effort to improve drought tolerance, significant progress has been achieved in developing drought-tolerant alfalfa lines through transgenic approaches, and are promoted as promising alternatives to non-transgenic varieties. Till now, however, there has been no systematic review comparing the responses of transgenic and non-transgenic alfalfa varieties to drought stress. Therefore, the main objective of this review is to summarize the anatomical, morphological, and physiological responses of transgenic alfalfa compared to non-transgenic plants under various drought stress conditions. Transgenic approaches induced higher survival and recovery rates, biomass yield and forage quality under inadequate water supply. Compared to non-transgenic plants, transgenic alfalfa had higher water and nutrient uptake, photosynthetic rates, and enhanced accumulation of compatible solutes, contributing to a significant reduction in water consumption and increased water conservation. Furthermore, we propose improvements in alfalfa forage yield and quality through appropriate drought stress management options. In conclusion, this review highlights future research directions for a better understanding of adaptive mechanisms and improved breeding strategies to enhance alfalfa production and quality under drought-prone environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: Clover; grass; legumes; forage; alfalfa; herbicide resistance; buttercup; chicory; proximal hyperspectral sensing EN Clover grass legumes forage alfalfa herbicide resistance buttercup chicory proximal hyperspectral sensing 249 251 3 05/17/22 20220801 NES 220801 In this special issue of NZJA, we have collected papers that focus on new science in the discipline of plant sciences. Ranunculus acris control in dairy pasture - a comparison of herbicides, plant growth promoters, a bioherbicide and pregraze mowing. Clover, grass, legumes, forage, alfalfa, herbicide resistance, buttercup, chicory, proximal hyperspectral sensing Continuing the legume theme, Gerard et al. ([7]) present an interesting data set comparing yields of eight perennial clover cultivars under field conditions over two years. [Extracted from the article]

The effect of cultivation of alfalfa - alone and in mixtures with grass components (awnless bromegrass, cocksfoot, and combination with both components) on the degree of root damage by Otiorrhynchus ligustici Linnaeus (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) and the productivity of dry aboveground and root biomass of crops was studied. The study was conducted at the Institute of Forage Crops - Pleven, Bulgaria, and covers the period 2018-2020. It was found that mixed cultivation of alfalfa with grass components has been shown to reduce root damage by O. ligustici compared to alfalfa pure crop. The least preferred, with the lowest degree of damage was a mixture of alfalfa with cocksfoot (50:50%), where the number of gnawed furrows and holes, and the length of the furrows decreased by 70.5, 71.4, and 23.1%, respectively, followed by a mixture of alfalfa with awnless bromegrass (50:50%). The mixed cultivation of legumes and grasses has a positive effect on the development of grass components compared to their pure cultivation, as the values of stem height, the number of stems, and root length have been shown to increase in mixtures. Cocksfoot in mixture with alfalfa has the highest values on all three indicators studied. Thus, the mixed cultivation of alfalfa with grass components significantly increased the productivity of dry aboveground and root biomass of the individual components in the mixtures and ensures yield stability over the years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growth responses of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) to azomite, a natural composite earth mineral, were assessed in a greenhouse experiment at Virginia State University, Chesterfield, VA. Alfalfa plants were raised on lime‐amended Bojac, Bourne, Emporia and Cullen soils that received 224 kg K/ha in 14 × 16 cm pots. Azomite, a natural composite micronutrients fertilizer, was applied at 0, 200, 400, 600 kg/ha and experiment replicated three times. Over 29 weeks, plant heights and forage biomass were recorded and growth rates calculated at four different cuts. The data were analyzed using the PROC GLIMMIX procedure in SAS 9.3 to test for effects of soil type and azomite rates on the performance of alfalfa. Results indicate that, compared to the control, azomite application increased plant heights, forage biomass and growth rates of alfalfa and more so on Bojac and Bourne than Emporia and Cullen soils. This was most likely due to good water permeability and high nutrient activity in the semi‐active Bojac and Bourne compared to the sub‐active Emporia and Cullen soils. Plant heights, biomass and growth rates were greatest for plants receiving 200 kg azomite/ha while those on the 600 kg/ha rate performed worse than the control. Alfalfa on lime‐amended and K‐sufficient soils responded positively to 200 kg azomite/ha, but was impacted negatively at the higher rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to determine the effects of different roughages in total mixed ration (TMR) inoculated with or without coculture of Lactobacillus acidophilus (L. acidophilus) and Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) on in vitro rumen fermentation and microbial population. Methods: Three TMRs formulations composed of different forages were used and each TMR was grouped into two treatments: non-fermented TMR and fermented TMR (F-TMR) (inoculated with coculture of L. acidophilus and B. subtilis). After fermentation, the fermentation, chemical and microbial profile of the TMRs were determined. The treatments were used for in vitro rumen fermentation to determine total gas production, pH, ammonia- nitrogen (NH3-N), and volatile fatty acids (VFA). Microbial populations were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). All data were analyzed as a 3x2 factorial arrangement design using the MIXED procedure of Statistical Analysis Systems. Results: Changes in the fermentation (pH, lactate, acetate, propionate, and NH3-N) and chemical composition (moisture, crude protein, crude fiber, and ash) were observed. For in vitro rumen fermentation, lower rumen pH, higher acetate, propionate, and total VFA content were observed in the F-TMR group after 24 h incubation (p<0.05). F-TMR group had higher acetate concentration compared with the non-fermented group. Total VFA was highest (p<0.05) in F-TMR containing combined forage of domestic and imported source (F-CF) and F-TMR containing Italian ryegrass silage and corn silage (F-IRS-CS) than that of TMR diet containing oat, timothy, and alfalfa hay. The microbial population was not affected by the different TMR diets. Conclusion: The use of Italian ryegrass silage and corn silage, as well as the inoculation of coculture of L. acidophilus and B. subtilis, in the TMR caused changes in the pH, lactate and acetate concentrations, and chemical composition of experimental diets. In addition, F-TMR composed with Italian ryegrass silage and corn silage altered ruminal pH and VFA concentrations during in vitro rumen fermentation experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]