Pike
1. Pike is the result of line crossing. Approximately 75 plants from the USDA germplasm release Syn XX were crossed to 75 plants selected from various semidormant alfalfa sources for resistance to Phytophthora root rot, spotted alfalfa aphid and pea aphid. The original cross was made in 1977 under cage isolation and designated PCc-77-122 (Syn 1). The Syn 2 (breeder seed) was produced in 1978 under field isolation and designated 78115.
2. Pike will be used for hay, grazing, greenchop and haylage. It has been tested in California, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, Oklahoma and Nebraska and will be used in the Central Alfalfa Adaptation Region in the U.S. (primarily northern California).
3. Pike has predominately purple flowers and semidormant growth habit similar to DuPuits.
4. Pike has high resistance to stem nematode; resistance to Fusarium wilt and pea aphid; moderate resistance to Phytophthora root rot, spotted alfalfa aphid and bacterial wilt. It is susceptible to anthracnose.
5. Adequate breeder seed (Syn 2) was produced to last the life of the variety and will be maintained by Northrup King Co. Seed classes will be breeder, foundation and certified. Limitation on age of stand for producing breeder, foundation and certified will be two, three and five years respectively.
6. Certified seed will be available in 1982.
7. Application for plant variety protection is not planned.