1. BPR359 is a twelve clone
synthetic variety. Parent plants were selected out of forage yield plots
and/or disease nurseries. The parent plants were progeny tested for one
or more of the following traits: Forage yield, stand persistence, forage
quality, seed yield, resistance to bacterial wilt, Fusarium wilt, Phytophthora
root rot, anthracnose,
Verticillium wilt, Aphanomyces,
spotted alfalfa aphid, and pea aphid. Parent plants trace back through
several intermediate steps to: MNP--B1 (Syn 2), Teweles Multistrain, and
Dairyland experimentals. Dairyland experimentals trace back to Vernal and
Ranger. The percent of germplasm sources are M. falcata (2), Ladak (18),
Turkistan (4), Flemish (70),
and Chilean (6).
2. BPR359 is adapted to the North Central United States and is intended for use in the Northern half of the United States for hay, haylage, greenchop and dehydration. The states where it has been tested are Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois.
3. BPR359 is moderately dormant and similar to the variety Saranac. Flower color in the Syn. 2 generation is 80% purple, 20% variegated, with trace amounts of cream, yellow and white.
4. BPR359 has high resistance to bacterial wilt, Fusarium wilt, Phytophthora root rot, resistance to anthracnose (Race 1), Verticillium wilt, spotted alfalfa aphid, pea aphid and moderate resistance to Aphanomyces (Race 1). Its reaction to blue alfalfa aphid and stem nematode has not been tested.
5. Breeder seed has been produced
from cuttings of the parental plants in an isolation block as Syn. 1. Seed
lots will be kept separate. Foundation seed (Syn. 2) will be produced
from breeder seed and Certified seed (Syn. 2 or 3) from either Breeder
or Foundation seed. One generation each of Breeder and Foundation
and two generations of
Certified seed (Syn 2) classes
are recognized. A maximum of three years each is permitted on stands producing
breeder and foundation seed with five years for certified seed. Sufficient
foundation seed for the projected life of the variety will be maintained
by Dairyland Research.
6. Certified seed will be available spring of 1993.
7. Application for the Plant Variety Protection is undecided.
8. As a means of additional varietal protection, information included with this application may be provided to the PVP office.