• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.25-30
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• 1987

There are differences in opinion as to whether nitrogen fertilizer should be used when establishing alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Various reports show that under a hot environment, rhizobia (Rhizobium meliloti) are not as effective in fixing atmospheric nitrogen as they are under moderate temperatures. It is also believed that the addition of nitrogen fertilizer inhibits nodulation of alfalfa seedlings. A replicated experiment was conducted under controlled environmental conditions at the University of Nevada-Reno, Reno, Nevada, USA, to determine the effects of nitrogen application on seedling growth and nodulation of alfalfa grown in a hot environment. Sterile sand was used as the growing media to which a complete nutrient solution minus nitrogen was applied volumetrically to each pot daily. In addition, half of the pots received NH4-$NO_3$, at the rate of 11.2 kg per ha at seeding and at two and four weeks after planting giving a total nitrogen application rate of 33.6 kg per ha during the seven-week experimental period. Rhizobia inoculant (R-12) consisted of a mixture of strains 171-15a, 1682c and 80 PI 265 of (Rhizobium meliloti). Inoculant was applied to the seeds prior to planting and to the sand media at two and four weeks after seeding. Twenty seeds were planted in pots 14.0 cm in diameter and 11.5 cm deep. Plants were thinned to ten plants per pot after emergence and were grown in a controlled environment chamber with a 16-hour light period. Soil temperature at 6 cm depth ranged from 17.4^{\circ}C.$ to 31.1^{\circ}C.$ and had a daily mean of 26.5^{\circ}C.$. Plants were harvested at weekly intervals for seven weeks. Root, shoot and total length, dry weight, volume and number of nodules per plant were determined. Root, shoot, and total length were greater in seedlings grown in soil where nigrogen was applied than that grown in soil to which no nitrogen was applied. The average size of the seedlings as determined by volume and weight was more than two times greater where plants were fertilized with nitrogen. Nodule number per seedling was also greater when nitrogen was applied compared to those which received no nitrogen. The differences were greater as the plants became older. The rhizobia did not fix enough nitrogen for adequate growth of seedlings. This is probably due to high temperature growing conditions that caused the rhizobia to become relatively ineffective as compared to cooler growing conditions. Data suggests it would be desirable to apply nitrogen at seeding when alfalfa is established under hot conditions that occur in mid- or late summer.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.151-156
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• 1986

There are differences in recommendations in the USA as to whether nitrogen fertilizer should be applied when establishing alfalfa (Medicago sativa L). The reason for not applying nitrogen is because some researchers found the addition of nitrogen reduced nodulation of alfalfa plants. A replicated experiment was conducted under controlled environmental conditions at the University of Nevada-Reno, Reno, Nevada, USA, to determine the effects of nitrogen application on seedling growth and nodulation of alfalfa when grown in a cool environment. A sterile sand was used in the growing media to which a complete nutrient solution minus nitrogen was applied volumetrically to each pot daily. Half of the pots received $NH_4NO_3$, at the rate of 11.2 kg/ha, at seeding and two and four weeks after planting, giving a total nitrogen application rate of 33.6 kg/ha. Rhizobia inoculant (R-12) consisted of a mixture of strains 171-15a. 1682c and 80 PI 265 of Rhizobium meliloti. Inoculant was applied to the seeds prior to planting and to the sand media at two and four weeks after seeding. Twenty seeds were planted in pots 14.0 cm in diameter and 11.5 cm deep. Seedlings were thinned after emergence to ten plants per pot. They were grown in a controlled environment chamber with a 16-hour light period. Soil temperatures at 6 cm depth ranged from $5.7^{\circ}C\;to\;21.5^{\circ}C$ and had a daily mean of $16.2^{\circ}C$ Plants were harvested at weekly intervals for seven weeks at which time root, shoot and total length, dry weight, volume and number of nodules per plant were determined. Root, shoot and total length were not affected by nitrogen fertilizer. However, application of nitrogen increased the size of the seedlings as determined by dry weight and volume when compared to plants which were not fertilized. This indicates that rhizobia did not fix enough atmospheric nitrogen to promote good growth. Nitrogen application resulted in significantly more nodules per plant. The effect of nitrogen fertilizer became more apparent as the plant became older. Results of this experiment show there are benefits from applying nitrogen at a low rate when establishing alfalfa under a cool environment.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.168-176
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• 2023

Silicon (Si) has the potential to improve plant growth and stress tolerance. The study aimed to explore Si-involving plant responses and molecular characterization of different Si-responsive genes in alfalfa. In this study, the exogenous supplementation of Si enhanced plant growth, and biomass yield. Si-acquisition in alfalfa root and shoot was higher in Si-supplemented compared to silicon deficient (-Si) plants, implying Si-acquisition has beneficial on alfalfa plants. As a consequence, the quantum efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) was significantly increased in silicon-sufficient (+Si) plants. The quantitative gene expression analysis exhibited a significant upregulation of the Lsi1, Lsi2, Lsi3, NIP5;1, and NIP6;1 genes in alfalfa roots, while BOR1, BOR4, NIP2, and NIP3 showed no significant variation in their expression. The MEME results further noticed the association of four motifs related to the major intrinsic protein (MIP). The interaction analysis revealed that NIP5;1 and Lsi1 showed a shared gene network with NIP2, BOR1, and BOR4, and Lsi2, Lsi3 and NIP3-1, respectively. These results suggest that members of the major intrinsic proteins (MIPs) family especially Lsi1, Lsi2, Lsi3, NIP5;1, and NIP6;1 genes helped to pass water and other neutral solutes through the cell membrane and those played significant roles in Si uptake and transport in plants. Together, these insights might be useful for alfalfa breeding and genome editing approaches for alfalfa improvement.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.243-247
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• 2016

Arsenic (As) is a toxic element that easily taken up by plants root. Several toxic forms of As disrupt plant metabolism by a series of cellular alterations. In this study, we applied annealing control primer (ACP)-based reverse transcriptase PCR (polymerase chain reaction) technique to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in alfalfa roots in response to As stress. Two-week-old alfalfa seedlings were exposed to As treatment for 6 hours. DEGs were screened from As treated samples using the ACP-based technique. A total of six DEGs including heat shock protein, HSP 23, plastocyanin-like domain protein162, thioredoxin H-type 1 protein, protein MKS1, and NAD(P)H dehydrogenase B2 were identified in alfalfa roots under As stress. These genes have putative functions in abiotic stress homeostasis, antioxidant activity, and plant defense. These identified genes would be useful to increase As tolerance in alfalfa plants.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.309-316
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• 2001

Helianthus tuberosus has been known to inhibit the growth of weeds and other plants sharing its habitat. This study was conducted to identify the allelochemicals of Helianthus tuberosus which were extracted with water and solvents. Aqueous extracts of leaf, stem, root, tuber and tuber peel of Helianthus tuberosus except tuber did not show significant differences in phytotoxicity to alfalfa seedlings. It was considered that Helianthus tuberosus contained fewer or less potential water-soluble substances that were toxic to alfalfa. Methanol extract of leaves of Helianthus tuberosus was sequentially partitioned in increasing polarity with n-hexane, ethylacetate and n-butanol. Each extract had a yield of 148, 12, 15.7 and 9.5g, respectively. Inhibitory effects on germination of alfalfa seeds treated with four fractions were not significantly different. But the significant reductions on hypocotyl length were observed for all the solvent extracts. Among the four fractions, the ethylacetate fraction showed the most significant inhibition effect on bioassay with alfalfa. Further separation of the active ethylacetate fraction by open column chromatography led to the 25 subfractions. In bioassay of each sub-fraction with alfalfa seeds, sub-fraction No. 13 showed the most inhibitory effect on seedling growth. $^1$H NMR and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis revealed that sub-fraction No. 13 was the mixture of straight-chain saturated fatty acids.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.619-628
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• 1995

Crude aqueous extracts from dried leaves, stems, roots, and flowers from both field grown and greenhouse grown alfalfa plants inhibited alfalfa seed germination and seedling growth. The degree of inhibition was greater in the field grown plant extracts. Flowers extract of field grown plant most inhibited alfalfa germination and seedling growth. In the concentration study, the highest concentration of extract (9.0%, w/v) significantly inhibited total alfalfa seed germination by 50% as compared to control. In partitioning study using pot hydroponic culture of plant biomass into leaves, stems, root, LAR products of LWR and SLA exhibited significant variation among four species. This result support that the inhibitory effect of autotoxic substances presenting in alfalfa tissue may be possible interference with the patitioning of biomass into leaf component relative to the total biomass produced by the alfalfa plant. Toxicity of extract was not reduced by adding activated charcoal, Dowex-50W, amberlite to the extract. Toxic substances existing in most plant tissues but mainly above ground foliage are water soluble and stable and may persist in old alfalfa fields. Thus, it is recommended to remove as much as possible of the above growth parts, especially vegetative stage, before one tries to re-establish alfalfa in former field of alfalfa.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.131-140
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• 1995

This experiment was conducted to test the effect on germination and seedling growth of major industrial crops and weed control potential using alfalfa plant. When dried alfalfa residues were mixed into vermiculite, germination, length of shoot and root of crops, such as Perilla frutescens, Sorghum nevosum, Platycodon grandiflorum and weeds, Digitaria saguinalis, Setaria viridis, Siegesbechia pubescens, Ammaranthus lividus, and Solanum nigrum, were significantly inhibited as the dried residue concentration increased. More than 10% concentration of the dired residue caused 80% germination and growth inhibition. The fresh alfalfa exudation also inhibited the germination and seedling growth of crop, barley, rye, alfalfa, and sesame, and weeds, Echinochloa crus-galli, Siegesbechia viridis, and Portulaca oleracea. The degree of inhibition showed the different response according to the fresh exudation concentration, types of crops and weeds. Generally, as the exudation concentration increased, the germination and seedling growth of crops and weeds inhibited. The exudation of dried residue also exhibited the strong inhibition effect on germination and seedling growth of crops, alfalfa, Platycodon grandiflorum, barley, sesame, rye and weeds, D. sanguinalis, S. pubescens, S. viridis, P. oleracea, E. crus-galli, At the 10% concentrations, S. pubescens, and P. oleracea were not germinated and showed only 15% germination in the S. viridis. From this study, would conclude that alfalfa plant contained water soluble phytotoxic substances which were inhibitory to weeds and crops. This results suggest that alfalfa had some possibility to control some weed species using toxic compounds like natural herbicide.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.303-307
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• 2003

Some Compositae plants are known to contain biologically active substances that are allelopathic to weeds species as well as antioxidant to foods. Aqueous extracts from leaves of 3 plant species, Cirsium japonica, Kalimeris yomena, and Lactuca saliva, were bioassayed against alfalfa (Medicago saliva) to determine their allelopathic effects. The extracts applied on filter paper in bioassay significantly inhibited root growth of alfalfa. Extracts of 20 g dry tissue $\textrm{L}^{-1}$ from Lactuca sativa showed the most inhibitory effect on alfalfa seedling growth and followed by Cirsium japonica and Kalimeris yomena. Oxidative stability by Rancimat method and antioxidant activity by TBA method for the ground samples were the greatest in Lactuca sativa although were less than that of a commonly used antioxidant, 1% ascorbic acid. Antioxidant activity of methanol extracts on storing meat was stably kept for 28days and was excellent compared to control. These results suggest that three Compositae plants have potent allelopathic and antioxidant effects, and that their activities differ, depending on plant species.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.113-120
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• 1996

The experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of phosphate fertilizer level on growth, crude protein content and nitrogen fixation ability of alfalfa(Medicugo sariva L.) at sowing year. The experimental field was conducted using a randomized block design with three replications according to the phosphate application level (200 and 400kfia) in farm of Kongju National University. Research samples were collected at intervals of 7 days from October 7 to December 9 and nitrogen fixation activity of nodule was measured by using the acetylene reduction method (Hardy et al. 1968). The results obtained are summarized as follows : 1. Number of branches, root length and dry matter weight at phosphate fertilizer level of 400kg in sowing year were more increase than those of 200kfia. The number of nodules was not significantly difference between phosphate fertilizer level, because of low temperature to be enough to nodulation of alfalfa. 2. The crude protein content of leaf, stem and root were not significantly affected by the phosphate fertilizer level. but that of leaf was increased at 400kgha on 72 days after sowing. The crude protein content of each part according to growing stages was increased at 44 days and 72 days after sowing. 3. The dry weight of root was not significantly difference between phosphate fertilizer level from 30 days to 51 days after sowing, but that was increased at phosphate fertilizer level of 400kgha from 51 days afier sowing. 4. The amount of ethylene in the samples taken 2 hours and calculated amount of nitrogen fixation were increased at phosphate fertilizer level of 400kfia from 30 days to 65 days after sowing. but there was vice versa from 58 days after sowing.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.177-182
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• 2023

Iron (Fe) is a vital element for plants and other organisms, involving in several physiological processes including respiration, chlorophyll biosynthesis, and photosynthesis. Unfortunately, how Fe accumulation regulates in response to light quality has not been well established in plants. Therefore, the aim of the study was to explore the mechanism of Fe homeostasis by light quality. In this study, we found morpho-physiological attributes were significantly improved in response to blue (λmax: 450) compared to white (λmax: 500) and red (λmax: 660) light. The root-shoot length, plant biomass, photosynthesis efficiency (Fv/Fm) and leafgreen (SPAD) significantly declined in response to white and red light. However, these parameters were improved and iron deficiency was substantially alleviated by blue light exposure in alfalfa seedlings. This study might be useful to the forage breeders and farmers for improving alfalfa yield and nutritional benefits.