Functional Analysis of ScABI3 from Syntrichia caninervis Mitt. in Medicago sativa L.

ABI3 (ABSCISIC ACID INSENSITIVE 3) is a family of B3 transcription factors essential for regulating the abscisic acid (ABA) signaling pathway involved in various biological processes and abiotic stress. Our previous studies demonstrated that ectopic expression ScABI3 from desiccation-tolerant moss (Syntrichia caninervis) into Arabidopsis thaliana enhanced stress tolerance. However, on plant transformation using gene are limited other possible functions not known. Here, we transformed alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) analyzed effects phenotype, photosynthetic efficiency, nutritional quality. The results showed endogenous ABA content transgenic plants was significantly higher than WT, leaf-stem ratio, leaf area, branch number increased with overexpression alfalfa. Further analysis gas exchange parameters net rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs), transpiration (Tr), water-use efficiency (WUE) were WT; meanwhile, protein lines but crude fat lower. Thus, these findings suggest can be used as potential candidate to manipulate alfalfa’s growth This study will provide theoretical basis breeding varieties assist forage production animal husbandry future.