U.S. Department of Agriculture January 8, 1968
Crops Research Division, ARS
Beltsville, Maryland 20705
REPORT OF MEETING OF
NATIONAL CERTIFIED ALFALFA VARIETY REVIEW BOARD
December 12, 1967
Members of the Review Board met December 12, 1967. They were of the opinion that the varieties listed below are distinctive and merit certification. A supplemental report may be issued at a later date on varieties for which insufficient information was provided for evaluation.
Experimental
Variety designation
Name during testing Breeder Applicant
123 CL-25 I. J. Johnson De Kalb Agricultural
Association, Inc.,
DeKalb, Illinois 60115
153 CL-30 I. J. Johnson De Kalb Agricultural
Association, Inc.,
DeKalb, Illinois 60115
A-24 FSRC-A-2 J. Lewis Allison The Embro Seed Company, Inc.
P.O. Box 12286, Soulard
Station, St. Louis, Missouri
63157
Mesilla N.M. 31 Bill Melton Bill Melton, Department of
Agronomy, New Mexico State
University, Las Cruces,
New Mexico 84721
Unico Arizona DC-1, M. H. Schonhorst Department of Agronomy
SW-30 (Assisted by others)Arizona Agricultural
Experiment Station,
Tucson, Arizona 85721
WL 210 63 & 64 Cage D. F. Beard and Waterman-Loomis Co.,
E, PX 210 I. I. Kawaguchi 10916 Bornedale Drive,
Adelphi, Maryland 20783
WL 214 62 WB & WB-2 D. F. Beard and Waterman-Loomis Co.,
(Syn. 1)(Syn. 2) J C. Meserve 10916 Bornedale Drive,
Adelphi, Maryland 20783
WL 303 Exp. 303 D. F. Beard and Waterman-Loomis Co.,
10916 Bornedale Drive,
Adelphi, Maryland 20783
Information pertinent to certifying agencies which was requested on the application for each variety and the information submitted by the applicants are given below. The respective applicants should be contacted if additional information is desired.
Some of the Information Requested from Applicant:
1. A statement of the origin and the breeding procedures used in developing the variety.
2. Area of probable adaptation and primary purpose (hay, grazing, etc.) for which this variety will be used. Report States and areas within States where the variety has been tested, and proposed areas of recommendation and merchandising.
3. Information of value to field inspectors (such as uniformity, leaf, flower characteristics, etc.), physiological characteristics, obvious disease and insect reactions, and other identifying characteristics.
4. Procedure for maintaining stock seed, seed classes to be used, a statement as to the limitations of generations that may be certified, and any other requirements or limitations necessary to maintain varietal characteristics.
5. If this variety is accepted by official certifying agencies, when will certified seed first be offered for sale?
Information Submitted by Applicant on the Above Points:
123
1. 123 is a synthetic made up of 7 parental clones all of Vernal origin. These 7 parental clones were chosen initially from 294 clones tested in replicated clonal nursery trials for 2 years at West Chicago, Ill./and for seed yield at Woodland, Calif. The 7
parent clones of 123 were the highest in average specific combining ability among 13 included in a complete diallel evaluated for 2 years at Atlanta, Illinois.
2. 123 is intended for use as in long duration stands for hay in the areas where Vernal and comparable winter hardy varieties now are most widely used. 123 has been or is being tested in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Iowa, North Dakota, Nebraska, Illinois, Indiana, Montana, and Ohio plus Canada. Intended marketing will be in the major area of its adaptation.
3. Flower colors are blue to purple with approximately 1% yellow. In California, early spring and late fall growth of 123 is comparable to Vernal in growth habit uniformity, normal growth of 12-14 inches occurs after September seed harvest, and dormant after November 1. Growth habit is upright, similar in height to Ranger. Susceptible to spotted alfalfa aphid.
4. Breeder seed produced in isolation from stands established with rooted cuttings of 7 parental clones. Breeder seed field inspected by California Crop Improvement Association. Foundation seed produced in Idaho from stands established with breeder seed and inspected by Idaho Crop Improvement Association. Certified seed may be produced from either foundation or breeder seed stocks. Only seed produced from foundation or breeder seed will be recognized as 123 by the originators of this variety.
5. 1968.
153
1. The parental clones of 153 trace to the varieties Vernal, Ranger, Buffalo and Cody. The 7 parental clones were chosen from among 561 clones evaluated for 2 years at West Chicago, Ill. and from the upper 50% of these clones tested for seed yield at Woodland. The 7 parental clones of 153 were chosen from among 20 clones tested in a complete diallel for 2 years at Sycamore, Illinois, on the basis of high average specific combining ability for forage yield, desirable forage characteristics in respect to leafiness, color, and relative freedom from foliage diseases and for high seed yield characteristics at Woodland.
2. Adapted to the area overlapping the southern part of the Vernal usage and extending southward to include the Buffalo adaptation area. Intended for use in short duration stands for hay. 153 is in test at Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Montana, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee and in Canada. Intended marketing in the area of its adaptation.
3. Flower colors are blue to shades of purple, not variegated. Fall growth following seed harvest normally 12-16 inches in Sacramento Valley, California, dormant after November 1-15. Growth habit is relatively tall, comparable to Cody. Susceptible to spotted alfalfa aphid.
4. Breeder seed produced in isolation from stands established with rooted cuttings of the 7 parent clones. Breeder seed field inspected by the California Crop Improvement Association. Foundation seed produced in Idaho from stands established with breeder seed and inspected by the Idaho Crop Improvement Association. Certified seed may be produced from foundation or breeder seed stocks. Only seed produced from foundation or breeder seed will be recognized as 153 by the originators of this variety.
5. 1968.
A-24
1. Forty plants each in Socheville, Alfa, Du Puits, and Buffalo, were selected for vigor and seed setting ability: Seed was harvested from the ten most vigorous plants of the original forty plants in each of the four varieties and planted in greenhouse tests. Twelve of the most vigorous seedlings were selected from each of the 40 lots and randomly planted in an isolated crossing block. The bulked seed harvested from the 480 plants in 1962 and 1963 constitutes the breeder seed for this variety.
2. A-24 is adapted to the hay producing areas of Central United States.
3. Flower color is variegated, with lavender hues predominating.
Blooms as early as or earlier than Du Puits. Growth habit is
upright, taller than Vernal or Ranger; similar to Du Puits.
4. Seed production of A-24 shall be on a four-generation basis: breeder, foundation, registered and certified. Breeder seed will be maintained by Farm Seed Research Cooperation and will consist of seed harvested in 1962 and 1963 from the original 480 parental clones. Release of breeder seed will be made only to The Embro Seed Company, Inc., St. Louis, Missouri, for production of foundation seed. Foundation seed will be used for production of registered or certified seed. Certified seed fields will be established with foundation seed, except in an emergency when registered seed will be used. Foundation and registered seed will be produced in Kansas.
5. 1968.
Mesilla
1. N.M. 31 is a synthetic involving four clones of New Mexico Common and Turkistan parentage. The clones were selected on the basis of open pollinated and polycross progeny tests for aphid resistance, disease resistance and forage yield.
2. The present area of adaptation would be limited to New Mexico as no out-of-state tests have been conducted. This variety would be primarily utilized for hay production. This variety has been tested in southern New Mexico and will most probably be recommended for this area at the present time.
3. Flower colors are light to dark purple (less variability than Zia). More dormant than Zia, considerably more dormant than Moapa. Tolerant to green pea aphid, resistant to spotted alfalfa aphid, and tolerance or resistance to bacterial and Fusarium wilt.
4. Parent clones and breeder seed will be maintained by developing agency. The seed classes will be breeder seed, foundation, registered and certified. Breeder seed shall be the open-pollinated seed from the four parent clones bulked in equal quantities from each of the clones. The other factors will be governed by existing
regulations of the New Mexico Crop Improvement Association. 5. 1969. Unico
1. Unico has four parent clones selected for resistance to strain ENT-B of the spotted alfalfa aphid. Two of the clones are from the variety African (P-2 and 3-41). Both are parent clones, in the variety Sonora. The other two are from Plant Introduction P.1. 235,736 from India (M-56-10 and M-56-ll). Both are parent clones in the variety Mesa-Sirsa. Two intra-variety "single-crosses" were produced in separate isolation blocks at Tucson, Arizona. Seeds from the two single crosses were planted in alternate rows for cross pollination. Seed from this cross has been called "double-cross" seed.
2. The central valley of California and the lower desert valley areas of Southwestern United States, primarily for hay production.
3. Purple flowered with no variegation. Uniformly upright. Very nondormant, similar to Mesa-Sirsa. More tolerant or resistant to the downy mildew fungus and the spotted alfalfa aphid than Moapa or Sonora, but similar to Mesa-Sirsa.
4. Seed of the (African x African) and (Sirsa x Sirsa) single-crosses will be produced under cage in Arizona. A 1:1 blend of the seed from the two single-crosses will be called breeder seed. Breeder seed will be planted to produce the first synthetic generation of the "double-cross" combination and will be called foundation seed. Foundation seed will be planted to produce the second synthetic generation and will be called certified seed.
5. Fall of 1968.
WL 210
1. Ten clones derived from Vernal or Vernal crosses (8), Narragansett (1) and Culver (1) were selected for dark green color, forage yield and seed yield at the conclusion of a 2-year seed yield trial conducted at Bakersfield, California. Using PX seed, a test lot of PX 210 was planted in 1963 and tested under that designation. Subsequent lots of 63 and 64 Ca.E (Syn.l) as well as a seeded increase of 63 Ca.E have been tested.
2. Adapted to same areas as Vernal and WL 202 for hay, silage or green chop.
3. Flower color - 4% dark purple, 55% medium-light purple, 35% variegated, 4% white and 2% yellow. Average fall height at four Midwest locations was 7.35 inches for WL 210, 6.38 inches for WL 202 and 5.39 inches for Vernal. Growth habit is similar to Vernal and WL 202. Dark green color when compared with older standard varieties. Has scored 3.8 in spotted alfalfa aphid resistance compared with 2.0 for Lahontan and 4.8 for Saranac where 1 = no damage, 3 = moderate damage with many surviving seedlings and 5 = susceptible with few surviving plants.
4. Breeder seed is Syn. 1 seed from bulk harvested parent clones. Foundation seed is grown in the northern region of adaptation from breeder seed. Certified seed will be grown only from breeder or foundation seed.
5. 1968 or 1969.
WL 214
1. After screening for spotted alfalfa aphid resistance, 82 selected plant progenies from Atlantic, Vernal, Ranger, Neb. -67-2813, Grimm and seven Plant Introductions were inoculated with bacterial wilt. Plants showing severe damage by spotted alfalfa aphid, bacterial wilt, Fusarium, mildew or pea aphids, or that
set very little seed, were discarded. From 1 to 14 plants (total of 244) from each of 49 progenies were bulk harvested as 62 WB. Of the 244 plants comprising 62 WB, the maternal parents of 29 were derived from Atlantic, 140 from Venal, 49 from Ranger, 4 from P.I. 226,518, 4 from P.I. 215,595, 7 from P.I. 228,287, 6 from P.I. 183,262, 3 from Nebr.67-2813 and 2 from Grimm.
2. Primarily for hay or green chop in the upper Midwest where three or four harvests are to be made.
3. Predominately purple flowers (98%) and 2% white. More uniform than Vernal; less uniform than most Flemish varieties. Upright growth habit.
4. About 40 pounds of the original 62 WB are held in controlled storage as breeder seed for producing foundation seed. Foundation seed will be grown north of the Idaho-Nevada line, in the Pacific Northwest. Certified seed, only from breeder or foundation seed, may be produced in any part of the United States. No other increase or class of seed may be certified.
5. 1968-69.
WL 303
1. Eight progeny tested clones from Atlantic (6) and Vernal (2) with rapid recovery and good winter survival were combined into a synthetic in 1961 for evaluation and increase.
2. From Nebraska to Maryland and north to St. Paul, Minnesota, WL 303 has been tested generally with good results. It has been the top yielder in many tests. Is used for hay and/or green chop.
3. Flower color - 12% dark purple, 35% moderate-light purple, 40% blue-variegated, 12% purple tinged white to white and 1% yellow, and cream. As an average of foul Midwest locations, late October-November, height was 8.64 inches vs. 5.39 inches for Vernal and 10.15 inches for Flamande. Slightly more dormant than Flamande. Distinctive viney type of growth habit in early spring with nodding terminals at harvest. Otherwise, generally upright in habit.
4. Breeder seed is produced from intercrossing the eight parent clones under isolated field conditions, with honeybees the predominant pollinators. Seed is bulk harvested. Foundation seed is produced from breeder seed between 37 and 44 parallels. Certified seed will be produced only from foundation or breeder seed.
5. 1968 or 1969.
C.H. Hanson, Chairman
National Certified Alfalfa Variety Review
Board Members of the Board
E. L. Granstaff
Allenby White
Robert Kalton
R. L. Davis
C. H. Hanson, Chairman (nonvoting)
Alternates of the Board
Roberc Tewales
D. F. Beard
Golden L. Stoker
C. C. Lowe