title: Genetic Engineering of Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.).
abstract: Alfalfa is excellent perennial legume forage for its extensive ecological adaptability, high nutrition value, palatability and biological nitrogen fixation. It plays a very important role in the agriculture, animal husbandry and ecological construction. It is cultivated in all continents. With the development of modern plant breeding and genetic engineering techniques, a large amount of work has been carried out on alfalfa. Here we summarize the recent research advances in genetic engineering of alfalfa breeding, including transformation, quality improvement, stress resistance and as a bioreactor. The review article can enables us to understand the research method, direction and achievements of genetic engineering technology of Alfalfa.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khurshid
authors.forename: Zhan Min
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Yi Xiong
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Mei Liang
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100081, China. wuyanmin211@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Yan Min
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000235:genetics*; D019149:Bioreactors; D017343:Genes, Plant / Q000235:genetics*; D005818:Genetic Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D000455:Medicago sativa / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism