Double Eagle

1. Double Eagle is a synthetic variety with 200 parent plants that were selected sequentially for high winter hardiness, large deep-set crowns, and multifoliolate leaf expression. Parent plants were selected from fiveyear old Pennsylvania and three-year old Wisconsin yield trials. Yield trial source varieties were derived from various populations that were developed by phenotypic recurrent selection for high relative feed value (using Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy), and for resistance to one or more of the following pests: bacterial wilt, Fusarium Wilt, Verticillium wilt, Phytophthora root rot, Aphanomyces root rot, anthracnose (race 1), and Leptosphaerulina leafspot. Parentage of Double Eagle traces to the following germplasm sources: Cyclone, WinterKing, 9326, DK 122, FQ315, and miscellaneous Cal/West Seeds breeding populations. Breeder seed (Syn.1) was produced under cage isolation near Woodland, California in 1999.

2. Double Eagle is adapted to the North Central and East Central areas of the U.S. and is intended for use in the North Central, East Central, Great Plains, Moderately Winterhardy Intermountain, and Winterhardy Intermountain areas of the U.S.. Double Eagle has been tested in Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, New York, and Nebraska.

3. Double Eagle is a moderately dormant variety with fall dormancy similar to FD class 4 check varieties. Flower color observed in the Syn.2 generation is approximately 100% purple with a trace of variegated, white, cream, and yellow.

4. Double Eagle has high resistance to anthracnose (race 1), bacterial wilt, Fusarium wilt, Verticillium wilt, Phytophthora root rot, and stem nematode, with resistance to Aphanomyces root rot (race 1), spotted alfalfa aphid, and root knot nematode (Meloidogyne hapla), and moderate resistance to pea aphid. Reaction to the blue alfalfa aphid has not been tested.

5. Seed increase of Double Eagle is on a limited generation basis with two generations each of breeder, foundation, and certified seed classes. Breeder (Syn.1 or Syn.2), foundation (Syn.2 or Syn.3), and certified (Syn.3 or Syn.4) classes will be recognized. Production of Syn.2 breeder or Syn.3 foundation seed requires consent of the breeder. Breeder seed was produced under cage isolation near Woodland, California in 1999. Sufficient foundation seed for the projected life of the variety will be maintained by Cal/West Seeds. Stands of foundation and certified seed fields are limited to 3 and 6 years, respectively.

6. Certified seed of Double Eagle will be available in 2006.

7. No decision has been made regarding Plant Variety Protection.

8. This information can be forwarded to the PVP office.

9. Variety Name: Double Eagle Date submitted: November 30, 2005.

Experimental Designation: CW 93007