Alfalfa has been cultivated in China ever since its introduction from Persia (now Iran) about 200 years ago. In China alfalfa is primarily planted in the Loess Plateau area which includes 7 provinces including Gansu, Qinghai, Ningxia, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Henan and Neimenggu Provinces. Altogether the Loess Plateau includes 431,580 km2 . The total area of alfalfa production in China is 1.35 million ha, whereas, the Loess Plateau area contains 860,000 ha of alfalfa according to the P.R.C. Ministry of Agriculture's most recent information. The total area of production of alfalfa in China has increased over the years, 508,000 ha in the 1950's, 643,000 ha in the 1960's, 805,000 ha in the 1970's, 1.33 million ha in the 1980's and 1.35 million ha in the 1990's. The alfalfa production area in the Loess Plateau area has increased markedly from the 1950's where there were only 271,000 ha to today there are 861,000 ha. China has a number of Medicago species distributed throughout the Loess Plateau area which grow in the wild, were introduced or are cultivated. The perennial species include: M. alaschanica, M. arborea, M. archiducis-nicolai, M. caerulea, M. falcata, M. varia, M. sativa, M. vassilczenkoi, and M. ruthenica. The annual species include: M. arabica, M. littoralis, M. lupulina, M. minima, M. polymorpha, M. schischkini, M. tornata, and M. truncatula. Prior to the requirement at all alfalfa varieties need to be licenced, China had 177 land races which were distributed among 5 provinces (Shanxi, Shaaxi, Ningxia, Gansu, and Quinghai) and the Loess Plateau with the Loess Plateau area containing the largest number of 61. Modern Chinese alfalfa varieties have been licenced through the Chinese Herbage Cultivar Registration Board. these include 5 variegated alfalfa varieties ( Caoyuan No. 1, Caoyuan No.2, Gannong No. 1, Rambler, and Xinmu No.1) and 18 purple flowered varieties (Aohan, Beijiang, Cangzhou, Gongnong No.1 Gongnong No.2, Guanzhong, Hexi, Huaiyin, Jinnan, Longdong, Longzhong, Neimeng Zhungeer, Shaanbei, Tianshui, Tumu No. 2, Xinjiang Daye, Yuxian, and Zhaodong). The province of Gansu has been and will continue to be an important geographic center for the scientific research of alfalfa. Future research must follow 3 patterns: 1) materialization, 2) systematization and 3) standardization in accordance with the theory of Agricultural engineering in a rigorous scientific approach, thus we can pass through the hall into the inner chamber and easily attain our final goal. There are two areas we are focusing on: one is fall dormancy/winter hardening and the second is resistance to downy mildew. In the area of fall dormancy and winter hardiness, Lu Xinshi has worked with Larry Teuber resulting in their report on the topic of Allozyme Characterization of the National Alfalfa Cultivars from the People's Republic of China. In this study they analyzed 23 officially approved National Chinese cultivars and 9 US cultivars (Lu Xinshi, et al 1992). At present we are conducting the same type of allozyme study in Lanzhou. In the area of downy mildew resistance we are also continuing to fight against downy mildew. We estimated that downy mildew has reduced the yield of alfalfa by 30%. Please refer to Ma and Hou (1994) report on "The study on selection and breeding of alfalfa new clutivars resistant to downy mildew in China".
Ma, Z and Hou, T. 1994. The study on selection and breeding of alfalfa new cultivars resistant to downy mildew in China. Report of the 34th North American Alfalfa Improvement Conference, Guelph, Ontario Canada. Pages 207-208.