Contrasting responses of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) accessions to combined water and nutrient stress: integrated morphological, biochemical, and molecular analyses.

Radhouane alfalfa accession exhibits 250% increase in phenolic content and 86% boost in antioxidant capacity under combined water and nutrient stress, demonstrating superior stress tolerance.

• Why it matters: Understanding genetic variation in stress responses is crucial for improving alfalfa productivity amid increasing environmental challenges.
• What they did: Analysis of 14 Tunisian accessions identified contrasting genotypes, with detailed morphological, biochemical, and molecular assessments revealing key tolerance mechanisms in Radhouane.
• The result: Radhouane’s integrated resilience enables enhanced water transport, reduced oxidative damage, and strong gene regulation, offering promising targets for breeding stress-tolerant alfalfa varieties.