The Alfalfa Genome

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xxv

   PDF

2. Economic Importance, Practical Limitations to Production, Management, and Breeding Targets of Alfalfa

   • Dan Undersander

   Pages 1-11

3. Factors Influencing Yield and Quality in Alfalfa

   • Daniel H. Putnam

   Pages 13-27

4. The Origin, Evolution, and Genetic Diversity of Alfalfa

   • Zan Wang, Muhammet Şakiroğlu

   Pages 29-42

5. Germplasm Collection, Genetic Resources, and Gene Pools in Alfalfa

   • Brian M. Irish, Stephanie L. Greene

   Pages 43-64

6. Biotechnology Advances in Alfalfa

   • Deborah A. Samac, Stephen J. Temple

   Pages 65-86

7. Sequencing, Assembly, and Annotation of the Alfalfa Genome

   • Joann Mudge, Andrew D. Farmer

   Pages 87-109

8. Transcription Factors in Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.): Genome-Wide Identification and a Web Resource Center AlfalfaTFDB

   • Lev G. Nemchinov, Jonathan Shao, Samuel Grinstead, Olga A. Postnikova

   Pages 111-127

9. Genomics of Forage Quality in Alfalfa

   • Sen Lin, Steve Norberg, David Combs

   Pages 129-143

10. Physiological, Morphological, Biochemical, and Genetic Responses of Alfalfa to Salinity

    • Biswa R. Acharya, Devinder Sandhu, Jorge F. S. Ferreira

    Pages 145-157

11. Developing SNPs and Strategies for Genomic Analysis in Alfalfa

    • Cesar Augusto Medina, Long-Xi Yu

    Pages 159-175

12. Genomic Resources for Breeding in Alfalfa: Availability, Utility, and Adoption

    • Maria Katherine Mejia-Guerra, Dongyan Zhao, Moira J. Sheehan

    Pages 177-189

13. Genomic Selection for Higher Yield and Quality in Alfalfa

    • P. Annicchiarico, N. Nazzicari, L. Pecetti

    Pages 191-210

14. Identification and Characterization of Disease Resistance Genes in Alfalfa and Medicago truncatula for Breeding Improved Cultivars

    • Deborah A. Samac, Long-Xi Yu, Ali M. Missaoui

    Pages 211-233

15. Genetic and Genomic Assessments for Improving Drought Resilience in Alfalfa

    • Long-Xi Yu, Cesar Augusto Medina, Michael Peel

    Pages 235-253

16. Self-incompatibility, Inbreeding Depression, and Potential to Develop Inbred Lines in Alfalfa

    • Atit Parajuli, Long-Xi Yu, Michael Peel, Deven See, Steve Wagner, Steve Norberg et al.

    Pages 255-269

17. Targeted Mutagenesis of Alfalfa

    • Shaun J. Curtin, Susan S. Miller, Melinda R. Dornbusch, Andrew D. Farmer, Juan Gutierrez-Gonzalez

    Pages 271-283

This book is the first comprehensive compilation of deliberations on whole genome sequencing of the diploid and tetraploid alfalfa genomes including sequence assembly, gene annotation, and comparative genomics with the model legume genome, functional genomics, and genomics of important agronomic characters. Other chapters describe the genetic diversity and germplasm collections of alfalfa, as well as development of genetic markers and genome-wide association and genomic selection for economical important traits, genome editing, genomics, and breeding targets to address current and future needs. 

Altogether, the book contains about 300 pages over 16 chapters authored by globally reputed experts on the relevant field in this crop. This book is useful to the students, teachers, and scientists in the academia and relevant private companies interested in genetics, breeding, pathology, physiology, molecular genetics and breeding, biotechnology, and structural and functional genomics. The work is also useful to seed and forage industries.

• Genome Sequencing
• Trait Genomics
• Functional Genomics
• Genomic Selection
• Transcriptomics

• USDA-ARS, Plant Germplasm Introduction and Testing Research, Prosser, USA

  Long-Xi Yu

• ICAR-National Institute for Plant Biotechnology, Raja Ramanna Fellow, New Delhi, India

  Chittaranjan Kole

Dr. Long-Xi Yu is Research Plant Geneticist in USDA-ARS and Adjunct Professor at Washington State University. Dr. Yu received his Ph.D. degree from University of Orleans, France, and completed postdoctoral training at Cornell University. Dr. Yu has conducted research in plant genetics and genomics for 35 years in academia, industrial and government agency. He is currently leading several research projects for improving alfalfa production and forage quality. He has authored or co-authored more than 100 publications and received 50 special invitations to present seminars or review papers. He served on panels of The National Alfalfa & MISC Legumes Variety Review Board and The Washington Alfalfa Seeds Commission. He has supervised more than 30 visiting scientists, postdocs and PhD students. He has also served on editorial boards of 8 peer-reviewed journals and several scientific committees. 

Prof. Chittaranjan Kole is an internationally reputed scientist with an illustrious professional career of spanning over thirty-six years and original contributions in the fields of plant genomics, biotechnology, and molecular breeding leading to the publication of more than 160 quality research articles and reviews. He has edited over 130 books for the leading publishers of the world including Springer Nature, Wiley-Blackwell, and Taylor and Francis Group. His scientific contributions and editing acumen have been appreciated by seven Nobel Laureates including Profs. Norman Borlaug, Arthur Kornberg, Werner Arber, Phillip Sharp, Günter Blobel, Lee Hartwell, and Roger Kornberg. He has been honored with a number of Fellowships, Honorary Fellowships, and national and international awards including the Outstanding Crop Scientist Award conferred by the International Crop Science Society. He has served at all prestigious positions in academia including as Vice-Chancellor of BC Agricultural university, Project Coordinator of Indo-Russian Center of Biotechnology in India,and Director of Research of Institute of Nutraceutical Research of Clemson University, in USA. He worked also in the Pennsylvania State University and Clemson University as Visiting Professor in USA. He is also heading the International Climate-Resilient Crop Genomics Consortium and International Consortium for Phytomedomics and Nutriomics as their founding Principal Coordinator and President.

Policies and ethics