Genetic diversity and local adaption of alfalfa populations (Medicago sativa L.) under long-term grazing.

Genomic information on alfalfa adaptation to long-term grazing is useful for alfalfa genetic improvement. In this study, 14 alfalfa populations were collected from long-term grazing sites (> 25 years) across four soil zones in western Canada. Alfalfa cultivars released between 1926 and 1980 were used to compare degree of genetic variation of the 14 populations.

Transcriptomic analysis of differentially expressed genes in leaves and roots of two alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) cultivars with different salt tolerance.

Background: Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) production decreases under salt stress. Identification of genes associated with salt tolerance in alfalfa is essential for the development of molecular markers used for breeding and genetic improvement.

Tissue specific changes in elements and organic compounds of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) cultivars differing in salt tolerance under salt stress.

Soil salinity is a global concern and often the primary factor contributing to land degradation, limiting crop growth and production. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a low input high value forage legume with a wide adaptation.

Advancing crested wheatgrass [Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn.] breeding through genotyping-by-sequencing and genomic selection.

Crested wheatgrass [Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn.] provides high quality, highly palatable forage for early season grazing.

Advancing Bromegrass Breeding Through Imaging Phenotyping and Genomic Selection: A Review.

Breeding forage crops for high yields of digestible biomass along with improved resource-use efficiency and wide adaptation is essential to meet future challenges in forage production imposed by growing demand, declining resources, and changing climate. Bromegrasses ( spp.) are economically important forage species in the temperate regions of world, but genetic gain in forage yield of bromegrass is relatively low.

Genotyping-by-Sequencing Enhances Genetic Diversity Analysis of Crested Wheatgrass [ (L.) Gaertn.].

Molecular characterization of unsequenced plant species with complex genomes is now possible by genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) using recent next generation sequencing technologies. This study represents the first use of GBS application to sample genome-wide variants of crested wheatgrass [ (L.) Gaertn.

Genotyping-by-sequencing data of 272 crested wheatgrass () genotypes.

Crested wheatgrass [ L. (Gaertn.)] is an important cool-season forage grass widely used for early spring grazing.

RNA-Seq Analysis of Plant Maturity in Crested Wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum L.).

Crested wheatgrass ( L.) breeding programs aim to develop later maturing cultivars for extending early spring grazing in Western Canada. Plant maturity is a complex genetic trait, and little is known about genes associated with late maturity in this species.

RNA-Seq analysis of gene expression for floral development in crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum L.).

Crested wheatgrass [Agropyron cristatum L. (Gaertn.)] is widely used for early spring grazing in western Canada and the development of late maturing cultivars which maintain forage quality for a longer period is desired.

Fermentation, degradation and microbial nitrogen partitioning for three forage colour phenotypes within anthocyanidin-accumulating Lc-alfalfa progeny.

Background: Alfalfa has the disadvantage of having a rapid initial rate of protein degradation, which results in pasture bloat, low efficiency of protein utilisation and excessive nitrogen (N) pollution into the environment for cattle. Introducing a gene that stimulates the accumulation of monomeric/polymeric anthocyanidins might reduce the ruminal protein degradation rate (by fixing protein and/or direct interaction with microbes) and additionally reduce methane emission. The objectives of this study were to evaluate in vitro fermentation, degradation and microbial N partitioning of three forage colour phenotypes (green, light purple-green (LPG) and purple-green (PG)) within newly developed Lc-progeny and to compare them with those of parental green non-transgenic (NT) alfalfa.

Interference of condensed tannin in lignin analyses of dry bean and forage crops.

Legumes with high concentrations of condensed tannin (pinto bean [Phaseolus vulgaris L.], sainfoin [Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.], and big trefoil [Lotus uliginosus Hoff.

Expression of anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins after transformation of alfalfa with maize Lc.

Three anthocyanin regulatory genes of maize (Zea mays; Lc, B-Peru, and C1) were introduced into alfalfa (Medicago sativa) in a strategy designed to stimulate the flavonoid pathway and alter the composition of flavonoids produced in forage. Lc constructs included a full-length gene and a gene with a shortened 5'-untranslated region. Lc RNA was strongly expressed in Lc transgenic alfalfa foliage, but accumulation of red-purple anthocyanin was observed only under conditions of high light intensity or low temperature.