UC Salton
1. UC Salton is the fifth generation of a broad-based germplasm pool grown under conditions of severe natural selection for resistance to root rots and the spotted alfalfa aphid. Germplasm from many sources, including adapted and unadapted varieties, and material from the breeding program were combined into the germplasm pool. New sources of seed were added each year, but this was usually less than one-fourth of the total amount of seed. Seed was also added from previous generations of the germplasm pool which had further natural selection and planned selection against insects, diseases, and poor general appearance. Survival of respective sources is unknown. Seed was planted in solid stands in the Imperial Valley of California on a heavy soil which was naturally infested with crown and root rots and had slow water penetration. Hay was cut from seed plots on schedule until about May of each year. After this, one or two crops of seed were produced. The last three generations were grown on areas 1.7 acres in size and handled with regular farm equipment. Each generation was tested for yield potential. Essentially no insecticides were applied for insect control during the five generations of selection.
2. The low desert valley areas of southern California where the summer disease complex is a very important factor in stand reduction. UC Salton has been tested in the Imperial Valley of California, the Central Valley of California, and the Moapa Valley of Nevada. It will be used for hay, pasture, greenchop, and dehydration.
3. Purple flowers. Not uniform due to a broad genetic base. Nondormant, slightly less growth than Mesa-Sirsa during January and February but more growth during July, August, and September. Upright growth. Tolerance to the summer disease complex of the low desert valleys of California and to Phytophthora root rot. Resistance to biotype ENT-F of the spotted alfalfa aphid. Tolerance to the pea aphid.
4. Breeder seed was harvested from the 1966 general germplasm pool in the summer of 1968. Seed classes will be breeder, foundation, and certified. Breeder seed will be used to produce foundation seed and foundation seed for the production of certified seed. Breeder seed will be maintained by the University of California, Department of Agronomy and Range Science, Davis, California. If the supply of breeder seed should be depleted, a lot of foundation seed originating from breeder seed shall be set aside and used to produce the subsequent foundation seed. The number of years a field may remain in production of a seed class is to be determined by the certifying agencies within that State.
5. Fall of 1973.