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Acta Prataculturae Sinica ›› 2023, Vol. 32 ›› Issue (1): 144-153.DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2022016

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Effect of root traits of Medicago sativa lines with fall dormancy on overwintering

Xiao-long WANG1,2(), Zhao YANG2(), Yong-cai LAI1,3(), Hong LI2, Peng ZHONG2, Yan-xia XU2, Hua CHAI2, Sha-sha LI2, Yue WU2, Min-chao SONG2, Jing-ming ZHOU2   

  1. 1.Postdoctoral Research Workstation of Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences,Harbin 150086,China
    2.Branch of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary of Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences,Qiqihar 161005,China
    3.Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences,Harbin 150086,China
  • Received:2022-01-10 Revised:2022-03-09 Online:2023-01-20 Published:2022-11-07
  • Contact: Zhao YANG,Yong-cai LAI

Abstract:

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) varieties suitable for cultivation in western Heilongjiang Province were screened to explore the relationships among winter survival rate, root traits, and yield. Eight alfalfa varieties with different levels of fall dormancy from China and abroad were tested in a regional field experiment, which was established with a randomized block design. The yield, winter survival rate, and root traits (root crown diameter, root crown volume, root crown depth in soil, root length, main root diameter, number of root tips, lateral root diameter, lateral root position, lateral root number, and root biomass) were measured for each variety. The winter survival rates of Gongnong No.2, Caoyuan No.3, and Zhaodong alfalfa were all higher than 95%. The winter survival rate was significantly negatively correlated with root biomass (P<0.05; correlation coefficient, 0.762); and positively correlated with root crown diameter and crown depth in soil (P<0.05; correlation coefficients of 0.797 and 0.756, respectively). The winter survival rate was negatively correlated with the position of lateral roots (P<0.05; correlation coefficient, 0.712). There was a significant positive correlation between yield and winter survival rate (P<0.01; correlation coefficient, 0.956). The yields of Zhaodong, Caoyuan No.3, and Gongnong No.2 were 12746.73, 11921.24, and 11416.77 kg·ha-1, respectively, which were significantly higher than those of other varieties (P<0.05). A principal component analysis identified root crown diameter, root crown volume, root crown depth in soil, root length, main root diameter, lateral root diameter, lateral root number, and winter survival rate as important indexes to identify the cold resistance of alfalfa. On the basis of the results of a membership function analysis, the alfalfa varieties were ranked from most to least cold resistant as follows: Zhaodong>Gongnong No.2>Caoyuan No.3>Gold empress>Caribou>420>Sanditi>Sardi. Because of their high yields and winter survival rates, Zhaodong, Caoyuan No.3, and Gongnong No.2 were identified as the most suitable lines for cultivation in western Heilongjiang Province.

Key words: Medicago sativa, fall dormancy, root traits, winter survival rate, correlation