1. Gateway is a synthetic variety with 21 parent clones. Parents were selected based on clonal and/or progeny tests for forage yield, forage quality, fall dormancy reaction, persistence, pest resistance and multifoliolate leaf expression from breeding populations previously selected for resistance to one or more of the following pests: bacterial wilt, Fusarium wilt, anthracnose (Race I), Phytophthora root rot, Aphanomyces root rot (Race 1), and spotted alfalfa aphid A combination of genotypic and phenotypic recurrent selection was used in the development of this variety. The parental populations from which all clones were derived trace to the following cultivars: Excalibur 11(30%), 330(25%), Rushmore (25%), 5262(10%), Dominator (5%) and Magnum m (5%). Approximate germplasm source contributions are: M. falcata (3%), Ladak (4%), M. varia (26%), Turkistan (5%), Flemish (58%), and Chilean (4%).
2. This variety is adapted to the North Central U. S. This variety has been tested in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa and will be used in the northern U. S.
3. This variety has fall dormancy similar to FD4 checks and winter survival similar to WS2 checks. Flower color (Syn 2) is 96% purple and 4% variegated with a trace of yellow, cream and white. Gateway has high multifoliolate leaf expression.
4. This variety has high resistance to bacterial wilt, Fusarium wilt, anthracnose (Race 1), and Phytophthora root rot; resistance to Aphanomyces root rot (Race 1), Verticillium wilt, pea aphid, and spotted alfalfa aphid; and moderate resistance to stem nematode. Reaction to blue alfalfa aphid and root knot nematode has not been tested.
5. Seed increase is on a limited generation basis with one generation of breeder and two generations of foundation and certified seed classes. Breeder (Syn I), foundation (Syn2 or Syn3), and certified (Syn3 of Syn4) classes will be recognized Production of Syn3 foundation seed requires consent of the breeder. Breeder seed was produced near Nampa, Idaho in 1994. Sufficient foundation seed for the projected life of the variety will be maintained by Forage Genetics. Stands of foundation and certified seed fields are limited to 3 and 6 years, respectively.
6. Certified seed will be marketed in 1998.
7. No decision has been made concerning Plant Variety Protection Act
8. The information in this application can not be forwarded to the PVP office.
9. Variety Name: Gateway Experimental designations: FG 4L70.
Date Submitted November 1. 1997