Excalibur
1. Excalibur is a synthetic variety with 49 parent plants. Parents were selected for vegetative vigor, resistance to bacterial wilt and freedom from leaf diseases at West Salem, Wisconsin. 25 plants were selected from a (Vertus x multi-pest resistant) x Vertus population. 24 of the parent plants trace to crosses between Vertus and the varieties 120, Turbo, Answer and the germplasm release KS-77. Syn. 1 seed was produced in the greenhouse at West Salem. Breeder (Syn. 2) seed was produced in a field isolation near Woodland, California.
2. Excalibur has been tested in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Washington and is adapted to the Northeastern, Northcentral and Pacific Northwest regions of the U.S. It can be used for hay, haylage, greenchop or dehy.
3. Fall dormancy is similar to Saranac. Flower color is approximately 95% light to dark purple with 5% variegated.
4. Excalibur is highly resistant to Fusarium wilt, resistant to Verticillium wilt, bacterial wilt and Leptosphaerulina leafspot with moderate resistance to anthracnose and low resistance to Phytophthora root rot and spotted alfalfa aphid. Resistance characteristics to pea aphid and stem nematode have not been determined.
5. Breeder (Syn. 2) seed was produced in field isolation at Woodland, California, in 1981. Seed increase is on a limited generation basis with one generation each of breeder (Syn. 2), foundation (Syn. 3), and certified (Syn. 4) classes with limitations on age of stand of 1, 1, and 6 years respectively, will be recognized. Sufficient foundation seed of this variety for its projected life will be maintained in environmentally controlled storage by Cal/West Seeds.
6. Certified seed will be marketed in the fall of 1983.
7. Application for protection under the U.S. Plant Variety Protection Act is contemplated but the certification option will not be requested.