1. This cultivar is a broad based germplasm pool developed by a combination of phenotypic recurrent selection and modified convergent improvement using 21 different source pools in the University of California alfalfa breeding program. The component populations had previously been selected for resistance to scald, saline soil conditions, smog, root knot nematode (Meloidogyne sp.), Phytophthora root rot (Phytophthora megasperma), anthracnose (Colletotrichum trifolii), Downy mildew (Peronospora trifoliorum), bacterial wilt (Corynebacterium insidiosum), a root rot complex including Stagonospora (Stagonospora meliloti) and Fusarium root rot (Fusarium oxysporum), blue alfalfa aphid (Acyrthosiphon kondoi), Pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum), and spotted alfalfa aphid (Therioaphis maculata). This germplasm pool is composed of: 0%, Ladak; 0, M. varia; 8%, Tursistan; 0%,Peruvian; 19%, Indian; 46%, African; 3%, Arabian; and 16%, unknown sources of germplasm.
2. This cultivar is probably adapted to Low desert irrigated production areas. It has been tested in the Imperial Valley of California and the Central Valley of California (San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys). It is intended for hay, haylage, greenchop, or dehydration. The target market area will be the Low Desert irrigated alfalfa production areas of California.
3. This cultivar is very nondormant (group 9), Flower color is predominantly purple (99+%) with a trace of Variegated types (>0.5%). Flower color data were determined on both the Syn. 1 (UC-339) and Syn. 2 (UC-340)generations.
4. It is highly resistant Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum), pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum), spotted alfalfa aphid (Therioaphis maculata), and root knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita). It is resistant to Phytophthora root rot (Phytophthora megasperma) and blue alfalfa aphid (Acyrthosiphon kondoi). It is susceptible to southern anthracnose (Colletotrichum trifolii) (Racel), and bacterial wilt (Corynebacterium insidiosum). Resistance of this cultivar to Verticillium wilt (Verticillium albo- atrum) and Aphanomyces root rot (Race 1) (Aphanomyces euteiches), is unknown.
5. Seed classes of this cultivar will be breeders (produced in a field isolation in 1984), Foundation and Certified. Breeder and Foundation seed classes will be maintained by the University of California Foundation Seed Project, Davis or its designee. Breeders seed is limited to that produced at the Desert Research and Extension Center in 1986. Foundation and Certified seed is limited to a 2 and 3 year stand life, respectively. Seed production of the Foundation and Certified Classes is limited to The San Joaquin Valley of California south of 37¡25'N latitude and Riverside and Imperial counties of California south of 34¡00'N latitude. If the supply of breeders seed should become depleted, a selected lot of Foundation seed will be set aside and used to produce subsequent Foundation seed.
6. If approved for certification, Certified seed will first be offered for sale in 1997
7. Application for Plant Variety Protection will be made. Request for the certification option is under consideration.
8. As a means of added varietal protection, are you willing to have the information in this application turned over to the PVP office? YES
9 Variety name: Highline Date Submitted: November 27, 1996 Experimental Designations: UC-340
Page 5 of 6 (1996)