Alfalfa （Medicago sativa L.） is a globally important leguminous forage crop， widely cultivated and utilized due to its high biomass yield， nutritional value， strong adaptability， and excellent palatability. Flowering time is a critical stage in alfalfa growth cycle， directly affecting forage yield and quality. However， variations in environmental factors and genetic characteristics often lead to significant differences in flowering time， which in turn affecting its production， cultivation， management， and harvesting efficiency. In recent years， significant progresses have been made in the field of molecular biology， revealing the regulatory mechanisms of flowering gene expression was influenced by photoperiod， temperature and hormones. However， in China， the research on alfalfa flowering time regulation remains insufficient， with challenges including weak basic research， outdated breeding techniques， and inconsistent flowering periods among cultivars. This review summarizes the recent advances in the regulation of alfalfa flowering time， explores the ecological factors and genetic mechanisms influencing flowering， and proposes future optimization strategies for breeding and cultivation management. The aim is to provide theoretical support and practical guidance for high-yield， high-quality alfalfa breeding and sustainable utilization.

Alfalfa  /  Flowering time  /  Growth cycle  /  Flowering genes  /  Breeding