In Vitro Micropropagation of Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) Cultivars

Authors: Murat ÖZGEN, Suzan ALTINOK, Sebahattin ÖZCAN, Cafer S. SEVİMAY

Abstract: Shoot multiplication of the Alfalfa cultivars "Elçi" and "Mesa-Sirsa" was achieved from the shoot tips of in vitro germinated seedlings. Shoot tips were cultured in a basal medium supplemented with different concentrations of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and a-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). The number of shoots obtained was higher in the medium containing 2 mg/l BAP and 0.2 mg/l NAA for "Elçi" and 1 mg/l BAP and 0.2 mg/l NAA for "Mesa-Sirsa". In both cultivars, the mean length of shoots was significantly higher on the MS medium supplemented with 2 mg/l BAP and 0.2 mg/l NAA. The percentage of roots reached up to 80-90 % with increasing IBA (indole butyric acid) concentrations in the culture medium. The mean number of roots per shoot was also influenced by IBA concentrations, but there were no treatment effects on the root length of either cultivar. However, the mean root length was higher in "Elçi" than in "Mesa-Sirsa". No change was observed in the number of somatic chromosome of the shoots developed in the culture.

Keywords: Alfalfa, Medicago sativa, micropropagation, shoot multiplication, shoot tip culture