紫花苜蓿（Medicago sativa L.）生物能源利用的研究进展

紫花苜蓿（Medicago sativa L.）适应性强、生物质产量高，茎可用于生产酒精，叶片可用于家畜饲料，是最具开发潜力的能源植物之一。本文从紫花苜蓿生物能源利用角度出发，系统回顾了近年来紫花苜蓿作为能源植物在种质资源评价、细胞壁主要成分（纤维素、半纤维素、木质素）合成途径及其遗传调控以及栽培管理对酒精生产效率的影响等方面的研究进展，重点讨论了苜蓿细胞壁发育和木质素生物合成基因及其调控效应，并对紫花苜蓿作为能源植物的研发前景进行了展望。

Advances in Study on Bio-Energy Utilization of Stem Cell Wall Components in Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) has been recognized as one of the potential biofuel crops with high biomass and wild adaptability. Most importantly, the stems of alfalfa would be processed to produce ethanol and the leaves could be served separately as a livestock feed. In this paper, the recent advances of the studies and utilization of alfalfa as energy plant were reviewed, which including germplasm evaluations of biofuel traits, development of stem cell wall, biosynthetic pathways and genetic control of cell wall components (cellulose, hemi-cellulose and lignin), and the effects of cultivation management system to ethanol production. The development of stem cell wall and genetic regulation of lignin in alfalfa were discussed. Furthermore, the perspective utilization of alfalfa as biofuel crop was also proposed.