57Q77

1. 57Q77 is a synthetic variety of 175 parental plants tracing to seven (7) half-sib progeny lines. The lines were selected based on polycross (Half-sib) progeny tests for relative feed value (RFV) and forage yield. The original seven female parents were selected for anthracnose (race 1) or Phytophthora from five different Pioneer experimental lines. 57Q77 traces to CUFlOI (29%), MNPD-1 (7%), 524 (7%), Washoe (6%), Apollo (5%), Caliverde 65 (4%), Lahontan (3%), Condura 73 (2%), Nevada SynXX (2%) with minor contributions from Culver, Narragansett, Iroquois, AtraSS, Cherokee, Armor, Anchor, Citation, Vernal, Titan, Weevlchek, Nugget, Tempo, Kanza. Germplasm sources are approximately: Medicago falcata (2. 6%), Ladak (4. 8%), M varia (8. 9%), Turkistan (21. 6%), Flemish (1%), Chilean (6. 6%), Peruvian (0%), Indian (1. 8%), African (26. 8%) and unknown (25. 9%).

2. 57Q77 is intended for use in the southwestern part of the U. S. and other areas of the world where nondormant alfalfa are grown. It has been tested for yield in California, Argentina, Australia, Italy and Spain.

3. 57Q77 is a nondormant cultivar with a fall dormancy similar to Sutter. Flower color of the Syn 2 generation is 99% purple, 1% variegated with traces of cream, yellow and white.

4. 57Q77 has high resistance to Phytophthora root rot, pea aphid, blue aphid, spotted alfalfa aphid and northern root knot nematode; resistance to stem nematodes; moderate resistance to Fusarium wilt and anthracnose (race 1); low resistance to bacterial wilt; and is susceptible to Verticillium wilt and Aphanomyces root rot 57Q77 has not been tested for resistance to southern root knot nematode.

5. Breeders seed (Syn I) was produced in 1993 on parent plants in "cage isolation" and bulked. Seed classes will be breeder, foundation (Syn 2 or Syn 3) and certified (Syn 2, Syn 3) or Syn 4). Foundation seed may be produced from breeder or foundation. The second generation foundation (Syn 3) may be produced at the discretion of Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. Limitations on age of stand will be one, three, and five years, respectively, for breeder ,foundation, and certified seed Breeder seed must be produced in California Sufficient breeder and/or foundation seed for the projected life of the variety will be maintained by Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.

6. Certified seed will be marketed in the fall of 1998 in the U. S.

7. Application for Plant Variety Protection will be made, and the certification option will not be requested.

8. As a means of added varietal protection, information included with the application for Review of Alfalfa Varieties for Certification may be provided to the PVP office.

9. Variety name: 57Q77

Date submitted: November 26, 1997.

Experimental Designations: X57Q77, Y57N04