By Andi Anderson
A team of researchers from Michigan State University (MSU) has been awarded a $946,349 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to investigate alfalfa autotoxicity. This phenomenon occurs when alfalfa plants release chemical compounds that inhibit the germination and development of seedlings of their own species.
The project is led by Kim Cassida, an associate professor in the MSU Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences and MSU Extension forage specialist. Other researchers include:
- Sarah Lebeis, an assistant professor in the Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences
- Paige Baisley, a graduate student in Cassida's lab
- Virginia Moore, an assistant professor in the School of Integrative Plant Science at Cornell University
According to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service, alfalfa is the nation's third most valuable field crop, with an annual value of approximately $8.7 billion. While alfalfa has a variety of uses, it is most commonly grown for animal agriculture forage due to its high nutritional content.
Despite its resilience to various environmental stressors, alfalfa's most significant threat may be itself. Alfalfa autotoxicity poses a challenge to growers who want to replant alfalfa in existing stands. Current recommendations for managing autotoxicity involve rotating with other crops and allowing time for toxins to dissipate before replanting. However, these recommendations are often vague and uncertain due to variations in factors such as precipitation, soil type, and tillage practices.
To address this issue, the MSU-led team is developing a soil bioassay to determine whether a field is ready for alfalfa replanting. The bioassay will initially be used as a research tool to identify research plots and production fields affected by autotoxicity, allowing researchers to pinpoint causal compounds and environmental or management factors that influence the severity of the problem.
The project's primary objectives include:
- Identifying the compounds responsible for autotoxicity
- Examining the interactions between root function, soil microbiology, and factors such as soil fertility that influence chemical development and release
- Initiating efforts to breed alfalfa varieties that are resistant to autotoxicity
- Communicating research findings and recommendations to growers through MSU Extension education
The ultimate goal of the research is to develop new alfalfa varieties that either produce fewer toxins or are more tolerant to them. Cassida believes that this research could also serve as a model for understanding autotoxicity in other crop species.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-0shut0
Categories: Michigan, Crops, Alfalfa