Madera
1. Madera is a synthetic alfalfa cultivar derived through mass selection in over 400 acres of badly thinned, 3 and 6 year old hay fields in the San Joaquin Valley, CA in 1982. Four commonly grown non-dormant cultivars and Hilmar contributed to Madera. Assuming that all varieties were correctly identified, the germplasm traces to: M. falcata 1%, Ladak 1%, M. varia 7%, Turkistan 21%, Flemish 2%, Chilean 16%, Peruvian < 1%, Indian 17%, African 18%, and 16% is unknown. The plants were reselected in greenhouses in Sacramento and Woodland, CA, based on good agronomic characteristics and freedom from foliage diseases, reducing 216 selections to 108. Approximately 3 cuttings of each clone were planted in a screened isolation cage and pollinated with leafcutter and honeybees. The 6 clones of Hilmar were randomly intercrossed with the remaining 102 clones and the seed of the Hilmar clones were kept separate. Seed from the 102 clones were bulk harvested to produce breeder seed (Syn. 1). The plants were dug and carried over to produce 84C70. The seeds produced in 1983 and 1984 were not bulked.
2. Madera is adapted to the southwestern U.S. and other similar areas where non-dormant cultivars are grown. The primary use will be for hay, greenchop, and dehydration. Madera is tested in California.
3. Madera is non-dormant and has purple flowers. The summer growth habit is erect and moderately erect in late fall. The pods are tightly coiled and tan to brown in color.
4. Madera has high resistance to spotted alfalfa aphid, pea aphid, and Fusarium wilt; moderate resistance to Phytophthora root rot, bacterial wilt, and stem nematode; and low resistance to blue alfalfa aphid and anthracnose. Its reaction to Verticillium wilt is unknown.
5. Seed will be incresaed on a three generation basis. Breeder seed (Syn. 1) was produced in silation cages near Woodland, CA. Foundation seed (Syn. 2) will be produced for 2 years from breeder seed and certified seed (Syn. 2 or 3) will be produced for 4 years or less from fields planted with either foundation or breeder seed. The foundation and certified classes will be produced in the San Joaquin Valley (CA). No other class or generation will qualify.
6. Certified seed will be available in 1987.
7. Application for Plant Variety Protection is undecided.
8. Information may be given to the PVP office.