Maxidor
Applicant: Northrup King Co.
P. 0. Box 1406
Woodland, CA 95695
Description
Approximately 50 plants were selected from the variety CuFlOl near Yuma, Arizona on the basis of resistance to blue alfalfa aphid and on amount of winter growth. Approximately 25 plants were selected from each of the two NK experimental alfalfas K3-665 and K3-652, based on persistence, blue alfalfa aphid resistance and on amount of winter growth in an old yield trial near Yuma. The above mentioned 100 plants were randomly interpollinated to produce Matador II. The experimentals K3-665 and K3-652 represent selection for Phytophthora root rot resistance from U.C. Cargo and U.C. Cargo X Ainador, respectively.
The variety is intended for use in the low desert areas of California and Arizona where the blue alfalfa aphid is a problem. It has been tested in the California Central Valley as well as near Yuma, Arizona.
Maxidor is extremely nondormant and has mostly purple flowers.
It has resistance to Fusarium wilt and biotypes of the pea aphid and spotted alfalfa aphid found near Woodland, CA and in the San Joaquin Valley of California. It has moderate resistance to the blue alfalfa aphid found in the Imperial Valley and Central Valley of California and is also moderately resistant to Phytophthora root rot. It is susceptible to anthracnose and has not been tested for resistance to stem nematode or bacterial wilt.
Seed stocks will be maintained by Northrup King Co. and seed will be produced on a three generation basis with breeders, foundation and certified classes. Breeder seed (Syn 1) was produced under isolation near Woodland, CA in 1977 and will be used to produce foundation (or certified) seed for the life of the variety according to state regulations.
Certified seed will be available in 1979.
Application for protection under the Plant Variety Protection Act is not planned.