DS591
1. DS591 is a 60 clone synthetic variety. Parent plants were selected out of forage yield plots near Visallia, CA for resistance for root and crown diseases. Parent plants trace back to Mecca II. The percent of germplasm sources are: M. falcata(1), Ladak(1), M. varia(2), Turkistan(10), Flemish(1), Chilean(9), Peruvian(2), Indian(20), African(46) and unknown(8).

2. DS591 is adapted and intended for use in the Southwestern Region of the United States. The states where it has been tested are California, Buenos Aires, Santa Fe Argentina.

3. DS591 is a very non-dormant variety similar to CUFlOl in fall dormancy. Flower color in the Syn. 2 generation is 95% purple, S % variegated with trace amounts of cream, white and yellow.

4. DS591 has high resistance to Fusarium wilt, spotted alfalfa aphid, pea aphid; resistance to Phytophthora root rot, blue alfalfa aphid, northern root- knot nematode; moderate resistance to bacterial wilt and Aphanomyces root rot (Race 1). It has not been tested for anthracnose (Race 1), Verticillium wilt and stem nematode.

5. Breeder Seed was produced from bulking seed of parent plants planted in isolation to produce Syn. 1 near 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 are recognized. A maximum of three years each are permitted on stands producing Breeder and Foundation with five years for Certified Seed. Sufficient Breeder Seed for the projected life of the variety will be maintained by Dairyland Research.

6. Certified Seed was available fall of 1998.

7. Application for the Plant Variety Protection is undecided.

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

9. Variety name. Experimental designations: DS591