Research progress and potential applications for the abiotic stress-resistant forage plant Medicago ruthenica

The frequency, duration, and severity of abiotic stress on plant growth have been reported to increase, owing to environmental deterioration, and have caused created losses in both agricultural and animal husbandry production. Thus, the improvement of stress resistance in such forage crops is urgently needed. One Medicago species, Medicago ruthenica, can survive harsh environments, owing to its high stress tolerance, and has the potential to be used both as a breeding resource for improving the resistance of forage crops and as an ecological treatment and high-quality feed. Previous studies of M. ruthenica have mainly focused on the species’ classification, distribution, genetic diversity, biological characteristics, agronomic characteristics, cultivar introduction, and breeding. Accordingly, the aim of the present study was to review studies published with the last 10 years that have investigated the morphological, physiological, and molecular responses of M. ruthenica to abiotic stress. Future research directions and potential applications are also discussed to provide a reference for the future development and use of M. ruthenica, for grassland improvement, and for cultivating new forage varieties. Future research directions should include the development of new forage varieties using the stress resistance genes of M. ruthenica and the investigation of plant hormone responses to stressful conditions.