1. Award is a synthetic variety with 397 parent plants which were selected sequentially for multifoliolate leaf expression and for resistance to Phytophthora root rot and Aphanomyces root rot (race 1). Parent plants were selected from an 11-clone polycross population where the 11 clones had been selected for high relative feed value (using Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy),forage yield, winter survival, multifoliolate leaf expression, and resistance to Phona medicaginis from various populations which were themselves developed by phenotypic recurrent selection for multifoliolate leaf expression and for resistance to one or more of the following pests: bacterial wilt, Aphanomyces root rot (race 1), Phytophthora root rot, anthracnose (race 1), Verticillium wilt, Leptosphaerulina leafspot and spotted alfalfa aphid. Both clonal and half- sib progeny testing were used to select the 11 clones. Parentage of Award traces to the following germplasm sources: Alfaleaf, Encore,Crown II, DK 122, VS-775, and Prism. Approximate germplasm source contributions are as follows: M. falcata (8%), Ladak (6%), M. varia (25%), Turkistan (4%), Flemish (48%), and Chilean (9%).

2. Award is adapte