LIGHTNING II
1. Lightning II is a synthetic variety with 11 parent clones. Parents were selected for forageyield, persistence, forage quality, rapid recovery after cutting, and multifoliolate expression fromtwo-and three-year-old Wisconsin breeding nurseries. Parents trace to breeding populationsselected for multifoliolate expression and resistance to one or more of the following pests:bacterial wilt, Fusarium. wilt, Phytophthora root rot, Aphanomyces root rot (race 1), Verticillium, wilt, anthracnose (race 1), Leptosphaerulina, leaf spot, pea aphid and spottedalfalfa aphid. Recurrent phenotypic selection was used. Germplasm sources used in developingLightning II were: DK 127 (25%), Lightning (20%), LegenDairy 2.0 (15%), Rushmore (10%),Excalibur II (10%), 5262 (10%), Magnum III (5%) and G2852 (5%). Syn1 was produced nearNampa, Idaho, in 1995, harvested in total and bulked to form breeder seed. Approximategermplasm source contributions are: M. falcate (6%), Ladak (4%), M varia (32%), Turkistan(3%), Flemish (52%), and Chilean (3%).
2. This variety is adapted to the north central United States and intended for use in the northcentral United States. It has been tested in Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota.
3. Fall dormancy of this variety is similar to the FD4 checks and winter survival of this variety issimilar to WSI checks. Flower color in the syn2 is 75% purple and 25% variegated, with a traceof cream, white, and yellow. Lightning II has high multifoliolate leaf expression.
4. This variety has high resistance to anthracnose (race 1), bacterial wilt, Fusarium wilt, spottedalfalfa aphid, Phytophthora root rot and Aphanomyces root rot (race 1); resistance toVerticillium wilt; and moderate resistance to stem nematode and pea aphid. Reaction to bluealfalfa aphid and root knot nematode has not been tested.
5. Seed increase is on a limited generation basis with one generation of breeder and twogenerations of foundation and certified seed classes. Breeder (syn1), foundation (syn2 or 3), andcertified (syn3 or 4) classes will be recognized. Production of syn3 foundation seed requiresconsent of the breeder . Breeder seed was produced near Nampa, Idaho, in 1995. Sufficientfoundation seed for the projected life of the variety will be maintained by Forage Genetics. Stands of foundation and certified seed fields are limited to three and five years, respectively.
6. Certified seed will be marketed in 1999.
7. No decision has been made concerning Plant Variety Protection Act.
8. This information can not be forwarded to the Plant Variety Protection office.
9. Variety name: Lightning II
Experimental designations: FG 4G65
Date first accepted: January 1999
Date this amendment submitted: November 1, 1999