Tissue culture, genetic transformation, interaction with beneficial microbes, and modern bio-imaging techniques in alfalfa research

Abstract

Current research needs to be more focused on agronomical plants to effectively utilize the knowledge obtained from model plant species. Efforts to improve legumes have long employed common breeding tools. Recently, biotechnological approaches facilitated the development of improved legumes with new traits, allowing them to withstand climatic changes and biotic stress. Owing to its multiple uses and profits, alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) has become a prominent forage crop worldwide. This review provides a comprehensive research summary of tissue culture-based genetic transformation methods, which could be exploited for the development of transgenic alfalfa with agronomically desirable traits. Moreover, advanced bio-imaging approaches, including cutting-edge microscopy and phenotyping, are outlined here. Finally, characterization and the employment of beneficial microbes should help to produce biotechnologically improved and sustainable alfalfa cultivars.

Keywords:

• Advanced microscopy
• bio-imaging
• phenotyping
• symbiotic interaction
• tissue culture
• transgenic alfalfa
• transformation techniques

Disclosure statement

All authors declare they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by ERDF project “Plants as a tool for sustainable global development” [No. CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/16_019/0000827] and by Research Group Linkage Programme from Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. We would like to thank Editage (www.editage.com) for English language editing.