Aluminum Tolerance in Alfalfa as Expressed in Tissue Culture
1990
Parrot, W. A. | Bouton, J. H.
Acid soils whose pH is low enough for A1 to become soluble are found throughout the world and greatly limit growth of Al-sensitive crops like alfalfa, Medicago sativa L. Alfalfa germplasms were selected to overcome these conditions and are now available for testing. The objective of this study was to test performance of an acid-tolerant germplasm (AT), and an acid-sensitive check germplasm (AS), in acid, Al-toxic cell culture conditions. Both germplasms were tested for growth as callus in normal Biaydes medium, a Blaydes medium modified by lowering pH and levels of Ca and P, and on the same modified medium but with a toxic Al level. The modified Blaydes medium depressed callas growth of both germplasms relative to their growth on normal Blaydes. This depression was equal for both germplasms of the first 6 wk of culture, but by the 8th wk, the AT germplasm outperformed the AS germplasm. The addition of Al further decreased growth of AS callus but not AT callus. This suggests that plants from the AT germplasm rapidly express Al tolerance at the tissue level. With increasing time in culture, the AT germplasm also expresses acid tolerance in culture. The differences in callus growth shown by genotypes within germplasms indicates the cell culture procedure can be used to screen genotypes for acid or Al tolerance. Significant genotypic variability for acid, Al tolerance is still present within the germplasm, suggesting that continued progress from selection should still be possible. Research supported by State and Hatch funds allocated to the Georgia Agric. Exp. Stn.
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