1. Capital is a nine clone synthetic with parental clones replicated in "cage isolation". Seed harvested from each clone in 1982 and 1983 was bulked to produce Syn 1 breeder seed. Parental clones were selected on the basis of clonal evaluation for forage and seed yield, bacterial wilt, Phytophthora root rot, and spotted alfalfa aphid. Clonal selection for forage yield was based upon open-pollinated progeny tests at several locations. Parental clones trace through several intermediate experimental lines to: 532, Saranac AR, 531, Flemish, Saranac, Vernal, Culver, DuPuits, Anchor, Atra 55, and others with small contributions. Germplasm sources are: M. falcata (3%), Ladak (6%), M. varia (16%), Turkistan (3%), Flemish (65%), and Chilean (7%).
2. Capital is adapted to the north central, east central, and winterhardy intermountain regions of the United States as well as northern Europe and northern Italy. It is intended for use in the Po River valley of Italy and in northern Europe. Its primary purpose is for hay, haylage, greenchop and dehydration. The states in which Capital have been tested are: Iowa, Minnesota, Indiana, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Oregon, Washington, Illinois and Wisconsin. It has also been tested in France and several locations in Italy.
3. Capital is a moderately dormant cultivar with fall dormancy similar to Saranac. Flower color of the Syn 2 generation is approximately 99% purple, 1% variegated and a trace of yellow, white and cream. Growth habit is erect in midsummer and semierect in the fall.
4. Capital has high resistance to bacterial wilt, Fusarium wilt, pea aphid and spotted alfalfa aphid; moderate resistance to Phytophthora root rot and stem nematode; and low resistance to Verticillium wilt. Capital has not been tested for anthracnose or blue alfalfa aphid.
5. Breeder seed (Syn 1) produced
on replicated parental clones in "cage isolation" over a two year period
was 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 seed may be produced
at the discretion of
Pioneer Hi--Bred International,
Inc. Limitations of age of stand will be three and five years for foundation
and certified seed, respectively. Sufficient breeder and foundation
seed for the projected life of the variety will be maintained by Pioneer
Hi-- Bred International, Inc.
6. Seed will be marketed in the spring of 1992.
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
Variety for Certification may be provided to the PVP office.