Good as Gold
1. Good as Gold is a 21 clone synthetic variety. Parent clones trace back through several intermediate steps to Vernal, Answer, Apollo, Tempo, Lahonton, Teweles Multistrain, MSB, MSB-CW5, MNP-D1, WI plant release M193 and Dairyland experimentals. Dairyland experimentals trace to Flandria, Culver, Vernal, Durstan and Ranger. Parent plants were selected out of forage yield plots and progeny tested for one or more of the following traits: Forage yield, stand persistence, winter hardiness, seed yield and resistance to bacterial wilt, Phytophthora root rot, Fusarium wilt, anthracnose, Verticillium wilt and Aphanomyces. Percent of germplasm sources are M. falcata (4), Ladak (6), M. varia (5), Turkistan (30), Flemish (50) and Chilean (5).
2. Good as Gold is intended for use in the eastern central and northern regions of the United States for hay, haylage, greenchop and dehydration. It has been tested in Wisconsin, Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma, New York and Georgia.
3. Flower color in the Syn. 2 generation is approximately 85% purple and 15% variegated, with a trace of yellow, white and cream. Growth habit is erect in mid-summer and semi-erect in the fall. Its fall dormancy is similar to the variety Saranac.
4. Good as Gold has high resistance to bacterial wilt, Fusarium wilt, Phytophthora root rot, resistance to anthracnose (Race 1), Verticillium wilt and spotted alfalfa aphid and low resistance to Aphanomyces. Reaction to pea aphid, blue aphid and stem nematode has not been tested.
5. Breeder seed has been produced from cuttings of the parental clones in an isolation block as Syn. 1. Enough Breeder seed (Syn. 1) was produced for the expectant life of the variety. Seed lots will be kept seperate. Foundation seed will be produced from Breeder seed and Certified seed from either Breeder or Foundation seed. One generation each of Breeder and Foundation and two generations of Certified seed classes are recognized. A maximum of three years each is permitted on stands producing Breeder and Foundation seed, with five years for Certified seed.
6. Certified seed will be available the spring of 1990.
7. Applications for Plant Variety Protection is undecided.
8. As a means of added varietal protection, information included with this application may be provided to the PVP office.