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Aims <p>Alfalfa (<i>Medicago sativa</i>) is a perennial forage legume of high agronomic and ecological value. Its potential to withstand both water deficit and high–calcium soils makes it a promising candidate for sustainable forage production in karst regions. However, the physiological mechanisms underlying varietal differences in tolerance to combined drought–calcium stress are not fully understood.</p> Methods <p>We selected seven alfalfa varieties and employed a two–factor experimental design involving drought stress (PEG–6000) and exogenous calcium (CaCl<sub>2</sub>) treatments. Subsequently, growth and physiological parameters were measured and evaluated.</p> Results <p>Calcium effects were stage– and genotype–specific: exogenous calcium exacerbated drought inhibition during germination, especially under high calcium (50&#xa0;mmol·L<sup>−1</sup>) in sensitive cultivars, while moderate calcium (5–25&#xa0;mmol·L<sup>−1</sup>) improved dry matter accumulation and regulated antioxidant activity, lipid peroxidation, and osmolyte content at the seedling stage. The adaptability ranking was Magnum 801&gt; WL525 &gt; Victoria &gt; Crown &gt; Gladiator &gt; Dieter &gt; PANGO, with top cultivars showing enhanced germination and metabolic–osmotic coordination under stress.</p> Conclusions <p>Calcium–drought interactions in alfalfa are strongly influenced by developmental stage and genetic background. These findings enhance our understanding of stress adaptation mechanisms in forage crops and provide a physiological basis for cultivar improvement and targeted deployment in calcium–rich, drought–prone karst agricultural systems.</p>

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Stage- and genotype-specific adaptation of alfalfa to calcium–drought interactions: physiological basis for karst crop breeding

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年11月29日

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  • Jingyi Pan,
  • Jiyuan Zhang,
  • Chang Liu,
  • Sisi Long,
  • Lili Zhao

摘要

Aims

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is a perennial forage legume of high agronomic and ecological value. Its potential to withstand both water deficit and high–calcium soils makes it a promising candidate for sustainable forage production in karst regions. However, the physiological mechanisms underlying varietal differences in tolerance to combined drought–calcium stress are not fully understood.

Methods

We selected seven alfalfa varieties and employed a two–factor experimental design involving drought stress (PEG–6000) and exogenous calcium (CaCl2) treatments. Subsequently, growth and physiological parameters were measured and evaluated.

Results

Calcium effects were stage– and genotype–specific: exogenous calcium exacerbated drought inhibition during germination, especially under high calcium (50 mmol·L−1) in sensitive cultivars, while moderate calcium (5–25 mmol·L−1) improved dry matter accumulation and regulated antioxidant activity, lipid peroxidation, and osmolyte content at the seedling stage. The adaptability ranking was Magnum 801> WL525 > Victoria > Crown > Gladiator > Dieter > PANGO, with top cultivars showing enhanced germination and metabolic–osmotic coordination under stress.

Conclusions

Calcium–drought interactions in alfalfa are strongly influenced by developmental stage and genetic background. These findings enhance our understanding of stress adaptation mechanisms in forage crops and provide a physiological basis for cultivar improvement and targeted deployment in calcium–rich, drought–prone karst agricultural systems.