Increased serum cholesterol and LDL cholesterol were reduced by 38 - 41.7% and 48 - 53.3% respectively when fed with alfalfa seed extract from the beginning or in established hyperlipidaemic model. LDL-cholesterol lowering was maximum (64.4%) in a model fed with alfalfa meals without cholesterol. An increase in HDL- cholesterol total cholesterol is suggestive of beneficial role since it is asso...

Long-term persistence and sustained biomass yields of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) stands are important to producers. Yield performance and persistence of intrasubspecific crosses between alfalfa subspecies sativa and falcata after the first post-establishment year are unknown. The objectives of this study were to measure biomass yields, persistence, and biomass yield stability in interand intr...

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a critical role in post-transcriptional gene regulation that down-regulates target genes by mRNA degradation or translational repression. Evidence is increasing for their crucial roles during plant development. Identification of miRNAs at the global genome-level by high-throughput sequencing is essential to functionally characterize miRNAs in plants. Alfalfa (Medicago sa...

White flagging of alfalfa, Medicago sativa 'Ranger, found associated with Ditylenchus dipsaci in the Columbia River Basin was observed in northern Utah during 1971. This is a report on chloroplast changes, induced by D. dipsaci in alfalfa leaves, as observed with an electron microscope. Leaves from alfalfa plants infected with D. dipsaci were either devoid of normal pigmentation or displayed va...

Transgenic alfalfa (Medicago sativa) expressing Mn-superoxide dismutase cDNA tended to have reduced injury from water-deficit stress as determined by chlorophyll fluorescence, electrolyte leakage, and regrowth from crowns. A 3-year field trial indicated that yield and survival of transgenic plants were significantly improved, supporting the hypothesis that tolerance of oxidative stress is impor...

Advances in alfalfa [Medicago sativa (L.) subsp. sativa] breeding, molecular genetics, and genomics have been slow because this crop is an allogamous autotetraploid (2n = 4x = 32) with complex polysomic inheritance and few genomic resources. Increasing cellulose and decreasing lignin in alfalfa stem cell walls would improve this crop as a cellulosic ethanol feedstock. We conducted genome-wide a...

The alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica (Gyllenhal), is a serious, yet sporadic defoliator of alfalfa, Medicago sativa L., in Nebraska. A 2-yr study was conducted in 2005 and 2006 to test for variation in degree-day requirements by location in eastern Nebraska. Sampling took place along a latitudinal gradient in three regions of eastern Nebraska. Three fields were sampled in each region during the 2...

Madicago sativa Linn, commonly known as 'Alfalfa', is a tonic plant rich in proteins, minerals, enzymes and vitamins, Bulk quantity of the whole plant is required in the pharmaceutical industries especially in homoecopathic pharmacies, Hence, there is a great need to cultivate this plant for sustained supply of the drug. Use of good and adequate phosphatecontaining farm yard manure, timely irri...

Withholding alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) irrigations during the summer, a practice referred to as summer irrigation termination (SIT), can conserve substantial amounts of water in long-season desert environments; however, plant mortality associated with SIT may be substantial. Proper timing of re-irrigation is critical for minimizing mortality and yield reductions following SIT. Procedures that...

Aluminum (Al) toxicity in acid soils is a major limitation to the production of alfalfa (Medicago sativa subsp. sativa L.) in the USA. Developing Al-tolerant alfalfa cultivars is one approach to overcome this constraint. Accessions of wild diploid alfalfa (M. sativa subsp. coerulea) have been found to be a source of useful genes for Al tolerance. Previously, two genomic regions associated with ...