Eagle
1. Eagle is a 35 clone synthetic derived from three experimental cage combinations and Vertus. The experimentals represented nursery selections for apparent disease resistance followed by screening for resistance to anthracnose and bacterial wilt (23 clones). All selections had been recombined for seed production and yield testing, following each of three or more cycles of nursery evaluation. The original source material was obtained from Vertus with minor contributions from Team and Grimm.
2. Eagle is a moderately winter hardy variety adapted for use in the northeastern, northcentral and northwestern US for hay, haylage and dehydration purposes. Eagle has been tested in Ohio, Illinois and Wisconsin and will be marketed in the northcentral and northwestern U.S.
3. Approximately 90% of the flowers are purple to light purple with 5% purple variegated and 5% blue. Midsummer growth is erect with fall growth similar to Saranac.
4. Eagle has high resistance to bacterial wilt; resistance to Fusarium wilt, anthracnose, pea aphid, spotted alfalfa aphid and stem nematode; moderate resistance to Verticillium wilt and Phytophthora root rot; and low resistance to blue alfalfa aphid.
5. Breeder seed (Syn 1) was produced on the parent clones at Bakersfield, California, in 1977. Sufficient foundation seed will be produced at Nampa, Idaho, for the life of the variety. One generation each of breeder (Syn 1), foundation (Syn 2) and certified seed (Syn 3) is recognized. A maximum of 3 harvest years are permitted for stands producing foundation seed, and 5 harvest years for stands producing certified seed.
6. Certified seed will be marketed in 1984.
7. Application will not be made for Plant Variety Protection.