Identification and assessment of drought resistance for 17 Alfalfa Varieties at the Seedling Period
A mimic drought stress was designed under greenhouse condition. Relative water contents in leave, free proline accumulation and cell membrane permeability was measured for 17 alfalfa cultivars after drought induced for 4,8, and 12 days. Tested 17 alfalfa cultivars could be classified into high, medium and weak drought resistant groups, among them, Zhaodun,CW400,DK140,GongnongNo land Xinjiang Daye belonged to high drought resistant group. DK127,Forerunner,Grandeur were in weak drought resistant group. There was significantly different on drought tolerant between the high and the weak groups (P<0.05).