Maricopa
1. Maricopa is a synthetic alfalfa cultivar derived from mass selecting plants in over 200 acres in the San Joaquin Valley (CA) in 1982. Plants were selected from three 3 year old fields that were reportedly planted with 3 released commonly grown varieties. The germplasm sources for Maricopa are believed to be: M. falcata < 1%, Ladak 2%, M. varia 7%, Turkistan 23%, Flemish <1%, Chilean 18%, Peruvian <1%, Indian 31%, African 9% and 10% unknown. Reselection for good agronomic characteristics and freedom from foliage diseases in greenhouses in Sacramento and Woodland, CA were planted in a screened isolation cage to produce breeder seed (83C62). The plants were dug and transplanted in another area in 1984 to produce 84C71. The breeder (Syn. 1) seed produced in 1983 and 1984 was not bulked.
2. Maricopa is adapted to the non-dormant growing areas of the southwestern U.S. and other similar regions. It will be used to produce hay, greenchop and dehydrated alfalfa. This variety is being tested in California.
3. Maricopa is a non-dormant cultivar and the flowers are purple with a trace of variegation. The stems are erect in summer and moderately erect in late fall. The pods are tightly coiled and tan to brown in color.
4. Maricopa has high resistance to spotted alfalfa aphid, pea aphid, and Fusarium wilt; resistance to blue alfalfa aphid, Phytophthora root rot, and stem nematode; moderate rsistance to bacterial wilt; and low resistance to anthracnose. Its reaction to Verticillium wilt has not been determined.
5. Breeder seed (Syn. 1) of Maricopa was produced in isolation cages near Woodland, CA, in 1983 and 1984 and pollinated with leafcutter and honeybees. Foundation seed (Syn. 2) will be produced from fields planted with breeder seed. Certified seed (Syn. 2 or 3) will be produced in the San Joaquin Valley (CA) with either breeder or foundation seed. No other class or generation will quality as Maricopa. The stand duration for breeder, foundation, and certified seed shall be 2, 2, and 4 years, respectively.
6. Certified seed will be available in 1987.
7. Application for Plant Variety Protection is undecided.
8. Information may be given to the PVP office.