The effect of stress memory-focused priming treatments on morphological, and physiological characteristics of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) under waterlogging stress

This study was carried out to determine the effect of waterlogging and drought primings on morphological and physiological characteristics of alfalfa under waterlogging stress. The experiment was conducted in greenhouse of the Agricultural Research Center in Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University as a pot study with Completely Randomized Factorial Design. In the study; plant height, root height, above-ground fresh and dry weight, root fresh and dry weight, number of leaves, leaf area, leaf/stem ratio, relative water content, total chlorophyll content, free proline content and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were analysed. As a result of the research, it was determined that the waterlogging priming enhanced the waterlogging stress tolerance of the alfalfa plants compared to the control, by creating stress memory. The drought priming treatment was somewhat effective compared to the control, although it was not as effective as the submergence priming treatment. According to the research findings, it was concluded that waterlogging priming could be a strategy that can be applied to reduce the negative effects of waterlogging stress in alfalfa.