Phenotypic diversity of Medicago crop wild relatives growing in Lebanon

Abstract

Medicago L. (Fabaceae; Papillionoidae) has high nutritive value, palatability, and ability to improve the soil fertility which puts it as one of the world’s most important forages. Medicago genetic resources are suffering from anthropogenic destructions, overgrazing, climate change and drought. Using the results of a previous gap analysis, which prioritized the species and sites for in situ and ex situ conservation, this study aims to undertake ex situ conservation activities for high priority annual Lebanese species. Accessions of the target species were collected, multiplied, characterized and conserved at Genebank of The International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA). Based on characterization data, morphological diversity assessment is carried out to analyse the phenotypic variability pattern in relation with the environmental conditions of the collection sites. The analysis of 26 characters applied on 19 collected species has shown a significant variability for 13 characters. The species Medicago polymorpha L. from Chwaifat, M. polymorpha from Shebenieh, M. truncatula Gaertn and M. orbicularis (L.) Bartal from Jeita, and M. constricta Durieu from Bwerij had characters that could be related to drought tolerance as they have displayed a high early vigour and an early flowering. In depth analysis of the characters early vigour, days to flowering and days to pod formation within the species in relation to drought tolerance further informed our proposed management plan. On this basis, the accessions showing a high adaptability to harsh conditions will be subject to in situ conservation.

Determination of Medicago orbicularis Antioxidant, Antihemolytic, and Anti-Cancerous Activities and Its Augmentation of Cisplatin-Induced Cytotoxicity in A549 Lung Cancer Cells

“…Briefly, RBCs were washed three times with 1X PBS and then pelleted and resuspended in PBS to obtain a 5% suspension of RBCs. Then, 50 µL of different concentrations (10,20,40,50, and 100 µg/mL) of ethanolic extract of fruits of M. orbicularis were added to 1 mL of the RBC suspension. The mixture was incubated at 37 • C for 1.5 h; then, the suspension was centrifuged at 2500 rpm for 10 min at 4 • C and the OD measured at 540 nm using a spectrophotometer.…”

“…The Fabaceae family of plants includes a large number of domesticated species which are harvested as crops for human and animal consumption as well as oils, fuel, fertilizers, and medicinal and agricultural varieties [18]. Medicago is a genus of the Fabaceae family and it comprises more than 83-87 different species of flowering plants [18][19][20]. Twenty of these species are herbaceous perennials, sixty-three are herbaceous annuals, and only two are shrubs [20].…”

“…Medicago is a genus of the Fabaceae family and it comprises more than 83-87 different species of flowering plants [18][19][20]. Twenty of these species are herbaceous perennials, sixty-three are herbaceous annuals, and only two are shrubs [20]. Medicago orbicularis L. Bartal.…”