BPR374
1. BPR374 is a 50 clone synthetic variety. One half of the parent plants were selected out of saturated soils near Marshfield, WI. Plants were selected for the branch rooted trait and excellent herbage growth. Source material trace back to 5373, 5472, Nordic, Zenith, Quest, 645, Precedent, Legacy, BlazerXL, Magnum rn-wet and Dairyland Experimental. The other half of the parent plant were selected out of disease nurseries and progeny tested for one or more of the following traits: forage yield, persistence, seed yield, forage quality, resistance to Phytophthora root rot, Aphanomyces root rot (Race 1), Verticillium wilt, bacterial wilt, Fusarium wilt, and spotted alfalfa aphid. This source material trace back to MNB-P1, Answer, RamRod and Dairyland Experimental. The percent of germplasm sources are: Turkistan(21), Flemish(38), Chilean(10) and unknown(3 1).

2. BPR374 is adapted to the North Central and East Central Region of the United States and intended for use in the Northern half of the United States. The states were it has been tested are Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

3. BPR374 is a dormant variety similar to Ranger in fall dormancy. Flower color in the Syn. 2 generation is 86% purple, 14% variegated with trace amounts of cream, white and yellow. In poorly drained soils, BPR374 expresses branch root tendencies.

4. BPR374 has high resistance to bacterial wilt, Fusarium wilt, Phytophthora root rot: resistance to anthracnose (Race 1), Verticillium wilt, pea aphid, Aphanomyces root rot (Race 1), northern root-knot nematode and moderate resistance to blue alfalfa aphid. Its reaction to stem nematode and spotted alfalfa aphid have not been tested.

5. Breeder seed was produced from bulking seed of parent plants planted in cage isolation to produce Syn. 1 at Sloughhouse, CA. in 1993. Foundation seed (Syn. 2) was produced from Breeder seed and Certified seed (Syn. 3) from Foundation seed. One generation each of Breeder, Foundation and Certified seed 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 Breeder seed for the projected life of the variety will be maintained by Dairyland Research International.

6. Certified seed will be available spring of 1998.

7. No decision has been made concerning Plant Variety Protection.

8. Information in the NAVRB application can be forwarded to the PVP office.

9. Variety Name:_______________ Experimental designations: BPR374