Project Number: 5428-21000-014-10
Project Type: General Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Jun 07, 2010
End Date: Feb 28, 2014

Objective:
Characterize the physiological mechanism(s) of salinity tolerance in selected alfalfa lines by identifying how the plants cope with saline soils.

Approach:
Three major salinity tolerance mechanisms in plants have been identified; salt secretion, exclusion and sequestration. It is hypothesized that salt-tolerant alfalfa may utilize one or more of these mechanisms. Detailed physiological analysis will be conducted to determine which mechanism(s) confer salinity tolerance to experimental lines of alfalfa. Alfalfas with contrasting salinity tolerance will be analyzed for salt gland formation, deposit of salt crystal on tissue surface, salt contents in different tissues and distribution of salt at the cellular and sub-cellular level. In addition, assays for oxidative stress and detoxification will also be performed.