Non-embryogenic protoplasts of Medicago rugosa and M. scutellata were electro-fused with iodoacetic acid-treated protoplasts of M. sativa (alfalfa). Putative somatic hybrid callus were obtained and some plants regenerated from both combinations. Hybridity of regenerants was confirmed by morphology, molecular means and cytological observations. Parental specific bands were recognized in somatic hybrids by Southern analysis. The somatic hybrids were perennial and their morphology was similar to M. sativa.Cytological observations were carried out on the somatic hybrids, their vegetative clones and self-pollinated offspring. Original somatic hybrids were aneuploids (2n=31-59), but during vegetative proliferation, their chromosome numbers reduced to 32. Those clones of hybrids formed seeds from M. sativa (+) M. rugosa by self-crossing. Chromosomal rearrangements within the parental genomes were observed in vegetative clones of hybrids and their S 1 offspring by Genomic in situ Hybridization (GISH). Some of S 1 offspring from M. sativa (+) M. rugosa showed better spring growth than parental M. sativa and tend to be tolerant to Alfalfa weevil. It was considered that these traits were introduced from the genome transferring M. rugosa chromosome to M. sativa. The cell fusion may still have a potential in transferring alien chromosomes in order to increase the genetic variation for crop breeding.Abbreviations: CTAB -cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide; DAPI -4,6-diamino-2-phenylindole dihydrochloride; 2,4-D -2,4-dichlorophenoxi-acetic acid; GISH -Genomic in situ Hybridization; IOA -iodoacetamide