Examining the Use of Various Factors to Predict Alfalfa Persistence in Wisconsin

Mark McCaslin and Wayne Helming
Forage Genetics

For several years alfalfa breeders have selected for improved winterhardiness within fall dormancy classes. This has caused increasing concern about the reliability of fall dormancy as a predictor of alfalfa winterhardiness. A standard test for the evaluation of winter survival per se was developed to address this concern. The experiments reported here were designed to examine the relationship between fall dormancy and winter survival indices generated from standard tests with winter injury in multiple location alfalfa trial