PRELIMINARY STUDIES ON THE MECHANISM FOR DROUGHT RESISTANCE OF ALFALFA RESISTANT CALLUS

Studies were carried on the mechanism for drought resistance, using stable callus resistant to physiological drought as material. The results showed: The content of dry matter was obviously higher than that of CK. Its water potential was - 10. 76bar, while the water potential of CK was -4. 77bar. Proline content was 4. 4 times as high as that of CK,and the content of k as well as sucrose was slightly lower than that of CK The content of Abscisic Acid was 3. 4 times as high as that of CK.but obviously lower than that of CK stressed on medium containing 20% PEG for four days. New proteins or polypeptides (M. W 17000. 18000 dorton) were produced in the calllus. The property of cell membrane was improved. An assumption of the mechanism for drought resistance was put forward.