1. Geneva is a synthetic variety with 11 parent clones. Parents were selected for forage yield, persistence, forage quality, rapid recovery after cutting, and multifoliolate expression from two- and three-year-old Wisconsin breeding nurseries. Parents trace to breeding populations selected for multifoliolate expression and resistance to one or more of the following pests: bacterial wilt, Fusarium wilt, Phytophthora root rot, Aphanomyces root rot (Race 1), Verticillium wilt, anthracnose (Race 1), Leptosphaerulina leaf spot, pea aphid and spotted aphid. Recurrent phenotypic selection was used. Germplasm sources used in developing Geneva were: DK 127 (25%), Lightning (20%), LegenDairy 2.0 (15%), Rushmore (10%), Excalibur II (10%), 5262 (10%), Magnum III (5%) and G2852 (5%). Syn1 seed was produced near Nampa, ID in 1995, harvested in total on all parents and bulked to form breeder seed. Approximate germplasm source contributions are: M. falcata (6%), Ladak (4%), M. varia (32%), Turkistan (3%), Flemish (52%), and Chilean (3%).
2. This variety is adapted to the North Central United States and intended for use in the North Central, East Central, Moderately Winterhardy Intermountain and Great Plains of the United States. This variety has been tested in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa.
3. This variety has fall dormancy similar to FD4 checks and winter survival similar to WS2 checks. Flower color (Syn2) is 96% purple, 2% variegated, 1% yellow and 1% white, with a trace of cream. Geneva has high multifoliolate leaf expression.
4. This variety has high resistance to bacterial wilt, Fusarium wilt, anthracnose (Race 1), Phytophthora root rot, Verticillium wilt, Aphanomyces root rot (Race 1) and pea aphid; resistance to spotted alfalfa aphid and stem nematode; and low resistance to blue alfalfa aphid. Reaction to 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 (Syn1), foundation (Syn2 or Syn3), and certified (Syn3 or Syn4) classes will be recognized. Production of Syn3 foundation seed requires consent of the breeder. Breeder seed was produced near Nampa, Idaho in 1995. 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 5 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 Plant Variety Protection office.
9. Variety Name: Geneva Date Submitted 11/1/98
Experimental designations: FG 4G75