Figure 8.

The possible regulatory mechanism of MsDREB1C in regulating the growth and quality of alfalfa. The overexpression of MsDREB1C in alfalfa enhances the transcription of MsGA2ox and decreases MsGA20ox expression level, which results in the reduction of gibberellin (GA₁, GA₃, GA₄, GA₇) synthesis. On the other hand, MsDREB1C increases crude protein and decreases lignin content by boosting the leaf–stem ratio and suppressing the expression of genes related to lignin synthesis, such as MsNST, MsC4H, MsPAL1, and Ms4CL, to improve forage quality.