Big 10
1. Big 10 is a synthetic variety with 202 parent plants. Parent plants were selected from the varieties Iroquois (44), Olympic (36), Peak (41), experimental C/W-61 (42) and a population derived from the cross (131 x Aquarius) (41), which were screened for resistance to one or more of the following diseases: bacterial wilt, anthracnose, Phytophthora root rot. The 202 plants were intercrossed under cage isolation at Woodland, California, to produce Breeders seed.
2. Big 10 has been tested in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan and is adapted to the Northcentral and Northeastern U.S. It can be used for hay, haylage, greenchop or dehy.
3. Fall dormancy is earlier than Saranac and later than Vernal. Flower color is approximately 75% light to dark purple and 25% variegated with a trace of whites and yellows.
4. Big 10 is highly resistant to bacterial wilt and Fusarium wilt, resistant to Phytophthora root rot, moderately resistant to anthracnose and Lepto leafspot and has low resistance to spotted alfalfa aphid. Not tested for pea aphid and stem nematode.
5. Breeder (Syn. 1) seed was produced in cage isolation at Woodland, California, in 1979. Seed increase is on a limited generation basis with one generation each of Breeder and Certified seed classes and two generations of Foundation seed class. Breeder (Syn. 1), Foundation (Syn. 2 or 3), and Certified classes (Syn. 2, 3, or 4) with limitations on age of stand of 1, 2 and 6 years respectively, will be recognized. Sufficient Foundation seed of this variety for its projected life will be maintained in environmentally controlled storage by the breeder.
6. Certified seed will be marketed in December, 1983.
7. If application for Plant Variety Protection is made, it would be under the certification provision of the U.S. Plant Variety Protection Act.