CULTIVATION
of Medicago truncatula
(Cook lab-U.C. Davis; drcook@ucdavis.edu)
The following is a summary of our current
practices; however, we have not spent time trying to optimize conditions.
As a consequence there may be room for improvement and we would appreciate
any suggestions.
Growth room:
Light: 300 µmol/m2/sec, 14 h light,
10 h dark
Temperature: day 22°C (72°F),
night 18°C (65°F)
Greenhouse:
In Texas, we find that M. truncatula
grows well when ambient temperatures are below about 25°C ( 75°F).
During the summer months, when ambient greenhouse temperatures approach,
or often exceed, 32°C (90°F), plant growth is poor and seed yields
low.
Soil:
Brand: Peter's Professional Potting Soil,
manufactured by Scotts-Sierra Horticultural Products Co., phone (513)-644-9503.
Seedlings from caissons are initially
grown in 3" diameter pots until they are well established (> 5 leaves),
when they are transplanted to 8 or 10" diameter pots. Seedlings, for example
for seed amplification, are directly planted into flats.
For fertilizers, we use slow release formulations
such as Osmocote (14-14-14, N-P-K) and a micro-nutrient mix, incorporated
into the soil at transplanting or top dressed at later stages. High phosphate
fertilizers will accelerate flowering. Plants are grown in the growth room
during plant establishment, (in 3" pots for typically 2 weeks) and for
the first 2 weeks after transplantation into large pots when they are moved
to the green house. Under this regimen, first flowers usually appear at
7-8 weeks after transfer from caisson. Initiation of flowering is delayed
when plants are left in the growth room.
Diseases/pest:
The major disease we have experience is root
rot. This can be avoided by judicious watering. We routinely allow for
soil to drain fully between watering, often to a stage when plant wilting
is imminent. We find that it is better to risk wilting (usually reversible)
than over-watering.
The two pests we have experienced are
fungal gnats and white flies. Fungal gnats are controlled by
Gnatrol (a commercial formulation of Bacillus thurengiensis) applied
as soil drench at time of potting. For control of white flies, we spray
with Safer-soap (a detergent formulation) which acts as a contact insecticide.
A few hours after safer-soap spraying, the soap is washed away using water
delivered with a fine mist nozzle.
Aeroponic
chamber|Cultivation|DNA
extraction|EMS Mutagenesis|
Freezer
Medium|PCR Amplification|Seed
Germination|Seed Mill|
Medicago.org