Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

Relationships of cold resistance and soluble carbohydrates in nine alfalfa cultivars in Northern China

Author(s):

Zhifeng Wang ^{1, 2}, Zhijian Li ¹*, Yunfei Yang ¹, Jianling Zhu ¹, Lijuan Zhang ¹, Yanmei Liu ¹, Junfeng Wang ¹

Recieved Date: 2014-01-08, Accepted Date: 2014-03-30

Abstract:

Overwintering death is a major problem for alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) production in Northern China. In this research, we employed nine extensively cultivated alfalfa cultivars in Northern China for exploring the relationships between carbohydrate content in taproot and cold resistance through correlating taproot carbohydrate measures of alfalfa before winter and alfalfa over winter survival rates as well as growth of the following year based on plot experiment. In particular, cold resistance was analysed based on the determination of content of soluble sugars, sucrose, and starch in alfalfa taproot before winter and winter survival after returning green in the following year. Results indicated that cold resistance of 9 alfalfa cultivars could be divided into 3 types that were poor cold resistance, moderate cold resistance and hardy cold resistance. Soluble sugars, sucrose and starch content in taproot among 9 alfalfa cultivars but only sugar and starch content in 3 types were different degree of differences, and some of them were significant (P<0.05). Cold resistance of 9 alfalfa cultivars was not correlated with soluble sugar content, and positively correlated with sucrose content, but negatively correlated with starch content at very significant (P<0.01) level. Cold resistance of 9 alfalfa cultivars increased with their sucrose content increase, as well as with their starch content decreased in taproot in Northern China were revealed.

Keywords:

Alfalfa, cold resistance, carbohydrate, Northern China

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Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2014
Volume: 12
Issue: 2
Category: Agriculture
Pages: 526-530

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