Salinity tolerance: morpho-physiological responses at different developmental stages in two alfalfa cultivars

Abstract

In the context of climate change, production in saline soils emerges as a global challenge of great importance, especially in arid regions of Argentina. This study focuses on alfalfa (Medicago sativa), a relevant forage crop in Argentina, and aims to evaluate its behavior at different stages of development under saline conditions in two cultivars, Monarca (M) and Kumen (Ku). The Ku cultivar accelerated germination and delayed the negative effect of salinity on growth during the vegetative period compared to M. These differences could be considered potential indicators of salinity tolerance in Ku cultivar. Furthermore, survival assessment showed significant differences in saline conditions, with Ku being less affected than M (-15%). It is proposed that the responses in Ku may be associated with its distinctive ability to cope with saline stress, highlighting the complexity of adaptation mechanisms in alfalfa. These findings provide analysis insights in terms of space (different organs) and time (different stages of alfalfa development) to contribute to the understanding of the disparity in cultivar responses to salinity, crucial for agriculturallivestock sustainability in saline soils of arid and semi-arid regions in Argentina.