1. MBS4ll2 is a twelve clone synthetic. Parent plants were selected out of forage yield plots and/or disease nurseries. These parentplants were progeny tested for one or more of the following traits: Forage yield, stand persistence, forage quality, resistance to bacterial wilt, Fusarium wilt, Phytophthora root rot, anthracnose (Race 1), Verticillium wilt, Aphanomyces root rot (Race 1), spotted alfalfa aphid, and pea aphid. Parent plants trace back through several intermediate steps to: NCMP2, MNP--D1, Tempo, Answer, Apollo, Teweles Multistrain, and Dairyland experimentals. Dairyland experimentals trace back to Vernal, Ranger and Lahontan. The percent of germplasm sources are M. falcata (5), Ladak (8), M. varia (6), Turkistan(15), Flemish (45), and Chilean (21).
2. MBS4l12 is adapted to the North East and Central United States and is intended for use in the Northern half of the United States. The states where it has been tested are Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan, Pennsylvania and New York.
3. MBS4112 is moderately dormant and similar to the variety Saranac. Flower color in the Syn. 2 generation is 88% purple, 12% variegated, with trace amounts of cream, yellow and white.
4. MBB4112 has high resistance to bacterial wilt, Fusarium wilt, Phytophthora root rot, resistance to anthracnose (Race 1), Verticillium wilt, pea aphid, spotted alfalfa aphid, and moderate resistance to blue alfalfa aphid and Aphanomyces root rot (Race 1). It was not tested for root knot nematode and stem nematode.
5. Breeder seed was produced from cuttings of the parental plants in an isolation block as Syn 1 in Sloughhouse, CA in 1988--90. Seed lots were kept separate. Foundation seed (Syn. 2) will be produced from Breeder seed and certified seed (Syn. 2 or 3) from either Breeder or Foundation seed. One generation each of Breeder and Foundation and two generations of Certified seed (Syn. 2 or 3) 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.
6. Certified seed will be available spring of 1993.
7. Application for the Plant Variety Protection is undecided.
8. As a means of additional varietal
protection, information included with this application may be provided
to the PVP office.