Determination of Cold Tolerance in Local Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) Varieties Grown in Turkey under In Vitro Conditions through MsPYL3-3 and MsPYL5-1 Genes

Abstract

Alfalfa is an important legume cultivated worldwide. Cold stress adversely affects alfalfa’s growth and development. Recently, the use of phytohormone salicylic acid (SA) and nanoparticles are attracting attention as effective approaches for gaining tolerance in both plant development and stress defense mechanisms. This study investigated how salicylic acid (SA) and magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgO NPs) influence the expression of MsPYL3-3 and MsPYL5-1 genes in two alfalfa varieties, Denizli and Van, under cold stresses of 10°C and 4°C. Initially, plants were grown under controlled conditions (25°C, 16-hours light/8-hours dark photoperiod, 60% humidity) for one month before being exposed to cold treatments. The treatments included foliar applications of 1 mM and 2 mM SA, as well as 5 ppm and 20 ppm MgO nanoparticles. Gene expression was measured using RT-qPCR analysis. Results showed that lowering temperatures induced upregulation of MsPYL3-3 and MsPYL5-1 in both varieties. Moreover, treatment with SA and MgO nanoparticles further increased the expression levels of these genes. Notably, the gene expression responses varied between the Denizli and Van varieties, indicating genotype-specific differences.

Keywords

• Medicago sativa L.
• Salicylic acid
• MgO nanoparticle
• MsPYL3-3
• MsPYL5-1

Determination of Cold Tolerance in Local Alfalfa (M. sativa L.) Cultivars Grown in Türkiye under In Vitro Conditions through MsPYL3-3 and MsPYL5-1 Genes

Abstract

Alfalfa is an important legume cultivated worldwide. Cold stress adversely affects alfalfa’s growth and development. Recently, the use of phytohormone salicylic acid (SA) and nanoparticles are attracting attention as effective approaches for gaining tolerance in both plant development and stress defense mechanisms. This study investigated how the SA and magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgO NPs) influence the expression of MsPYL3-3 and MsPYL5-1 genes in two alfalfa varieties, Denizli and Van, under cold stresses of 10°C and 4°C. Initially, plants were grown under controlled conditions (25°C, 16-hours light/8-hours dark photoperiod, 60% humidity) for one month before being exposed to cold treatments. The treatments included foliar applications of 1 mM and 2 mM SA, as well as 5 ppm and 20 ppm MgO nanoparticles. Gene expression was measured using RT-qPCR analysis. Results showed that lowering temperatures induced upregulation of MsPYL3-3 and MsPYL5-1 in both varieties. Moreover, treatment with SA and MgO nanoparticles further increased the expression levels of these genes. Notably, the gene expression responses varied between the Denizli and Van varieties, indicating genotype-specific differences.

Keywords

• Medicago sativa L.
• Salicylic acid
• MgO nanoparticle
• MsPYL3-3
• MsPYL5-1

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