Ectopic expression of tea MYB genes alter spatial flavonoid accumulation in alfalfa (Medicago sativa).

Flavonoids are one of the largest secondary metabolite groups, which are widely present in plants. Flavonoids include anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, flavonols and isoflavones. In particular, proanthocyanidins possess beneficial effects for ruminant animals in preventing lethal pasture bloat.

Functional characterization of a gibberellin receptor and its application in alfalfa biomass improvement.

Bioactive gibberellins (GAs) are essential phytohormones involved in the regulation of many aspects of plant development. GA receptors are crucial in GA signal transduction in plants. The GA receptor GoGID1 promotes plant elongation and improves biomass production when ectopically expressed in tobacco.

An aquaporin protein is associated with drought stress tolerance.

Water channel proteins known as aquaporins (AQPs) regulate the movement of water and other small molecules across plant vacuolar and plasma membranes; they are associated with plant tolerance of biotic and abiotic stresses. In this study, a PIP type AQPs gene, designated as GoPIP1, was cloned from Galega orientalis, a high value leguminous forage crop. The GoPIP1 gene consists of an 870 bp open reading frame encoding a protein of 289 amino acids, and belongs to the PIP1 subgroup of the PIP subfamily.

Overexpression of the Galega orientalis gibberellin receptor improves biomass production in transgenic tobacco.

Gibberellins (GAs) are well-known phytohormones that contribute to a wide range of plant growth and development functions including stem elongation and leaf expansion. GA receptors perceive GA and transmit signals to activate GA-regulated reactions. In this study, a GA receptor gene with homology to other leguminous plants was isolated from Galega orientalis and termed GoGID.

Isolation and characterization of GoDREB encoding an ERF-type protein in forage legume Galegae orientalis.

ERF is a unique transcription factor in higher plants with AP2-like DNA-binding domains. An ERF-like gene was isolated from Galegae orientalis, termed GoDREB. Sequence alignment showed that it shares high identity with other ERF family members in AP2 domain.