To clarify the mechanism of glycine betaine(GB) in alleviating drought damage during seed germination and growth and development of plantlets of Medicago polymorpha L., in this study, seeds of Medicago polymorpha L. from Shanghai were used as experimental materials, polyethylene glycol(PEG-6000) was used to simulate drought stress, and plant tissue culture techniques were used to study changes in growth indicators, physiological and biochemical indicators, and related gene expression of the Medicago polymorpha L. seeds and plantlets during the growth and development process under drought stress, as well as the alleviating effect of exogenous betaine on them. The results showed that the threshold concentration of PEG-6000 that could be tolerated for seed germination and plantlet growth and development of Medicago polymorpha L. was 5%. Under simulated drought stress with 5% PEG-6000, treatment with 0.4% to 0.8% GB significantly increased the germination and seedling rates of Medicago polymorpha L. seeds, as well as the plant height, main root length, root number, leaf number, CAT activity, SOD activity, POD activity, soluble sugar content, soluble protein content, and proline content of Medicago polymorpha L. seed germination seedlings and plantlets. It also significantly promoted the expression of WRKY transcription factor, protein TIFY8, transcription factor MYB13, NAC transcription factor 47, ABC transporter A family member 7, late embryogenesis rich protein 2, and ethylene responsive transcription factor ERF110, while significantly reduced their MDA content. Overall, the application of exogenous GB at an appropriate concentration could significantly alleviate the damage caused by drought stress to the seed germination and plantlet growth and development of Medicago polymorpha L..
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