Abstract
We investigated drought growth responses in Medicago lupulina using PEG to simulate drought stress. We grew Medicago lupulina plants inoculated with Sinorhizobium meliloti in Magenta boxes under randomly assigned treatments: a control, PEG applied to the bottom (PEG added to the bottom-watering container), or PEG applied from the top (PEG poured over the growth media). PEG treatments significantly reduced above-ground growth but unexpectedly increased nodulation. Our results suggest that while PEG effectively simulates drought stress on above-ground growth parameters, it may not accurately simulate drought effects on rhizobial symbiosis.