Release date: 8-Apr-2026 11:15 AM EDT
Selenium switch helps alfalfa turn greener
Chinese Academy of Sciences
A tiny RNA signal may hold the key to making alfalfa greener, more productive, and more nutritious. The study shows that selenium boosts chlorophyll production in alfalfa by activating a gene-control pathway centered on MsmiR171. This molecule suppresses MsSCL6, which otherwise restrains chlorophyll formation, and ultimately relieves repression on MsPOR, a key gene in the chlorophyll biosynthesis pathway. As a result, plants accumulate more chlorophyll and show stronger photosynthetic performance. The work reveals a previously unknown post-transcriptional mechanism linking selenium to leaf color, photosynthesis, and biomass-related traits in a major forage crop.
UNREVIEWED
Research Results
SCIENCE