Riley
1. Riley is an 8 clone synthetic whose parentage traces to Cherokee (5), Kanza (1), and polycross progenies of Buffalo (1) and Williamsburg (1). Source materials were subjected separately to phenotypic recurrent selection in the laboratory - Cherokee and the polycross materials for resistance to the pea aphid, spotted alfalfa aphid and bacterial wilt; Kanza for resistance to the aphids and bacterial leaf spot. Selection for resistance to the potato leafhopper, summer black stem and anthracnose were made in the field. Parental clones were selected on the basis of clonal and 0.P. progeny tests.
2. The probable area of adaptation is similar to that of Buffalo, Cherokee, and Kanza. Tests have been conducted in Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska, Kansas, and Oklahoma. Riley is intended primarily as a hay crop.
3. Riley has a high level of resistance to anthracnose, bacterial wilt, pea aphid, and spotted alfalfa aphid biotypes present in Kansas. It has moderate resistance to summer black stem and downy mildew and tolerance to potato leafhopper yellowing. Riley is susceptible to Phytophthora root rot and stem nematode reaction is not known. Flower color is various shades of purple with a low frequency of cream and blue.
4. Seed increase shall be on a limited generation basis with one generation each of breeder, foundation, and certified seed classes. Breeder (syn 2) and foundation (syn 3) seed is produced in Kansas under the auspices of the Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station. Certified seed (syn 4) may be grown only from foundation seed.
5. Certified seed will be offered for sale after the 1978 harvest.
6. No decision has been made for plant variety protection.