Yunxia Chen , Dan Luo , Xinhua Zhou

Tropical Legume Research Center, Hainan Institute of Tropical Agricultural Resources, Sanya, 572025, Hainan, China
Author    Correspondence author
Legume Genomics and Genetics, 2024, Vol. 15, No. 2   doi: 10.5376/lgg.2024.15.0009
Received: 08 Mar., 2024    Accepted: 09 Apr., 2024    Published: 21 Apr., 2024

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Chen Y.X., Luo D., and Zhou X.H., 2024, The impact of genomic studies on alfalfa crop improvement, Legume Genomics and Genetics, 15(2): 71-81 (doi: 10.5376/lgg.2024.15.0009)

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is a crucial forage crop globally, contributing significantly to livestock feed and sustainable agriculture. This study explores the profound impact of genomic studies on alfalfa crop improvement. By analyzing recent advancements in genomic technologies, such as whole-genome sequencing, marker-assisted selection, and genome-wide association studies (GWAS), this study highlights their role in enhancing alfalfa’s agronomic traits, including yield, disease resistance, and stress tolerance. The integration of genomics with traditional breeding methods has accelerated the development of superior alfalfa cultivars, promising increased productivity and resilience in various environmental conditions. This study synthesizes findings from multiple studies to provide a comprehensive understanding of how genomic insights are reshaping alfalfa breeding programs and fostering agricultural sustainability. The study also discusses challenges and future directions in leveraging genomics for alfalfa improvement, emphasizing the need for continued research and collaboration in this field.

Alfalfa crop improvement; Genomic studies; Marker-assisted selection; Whole-genome sequencing; Agronomic traits enhancement