Meteor
1. Breeding method employed in development of Meteor was phenotypic recurrent selection. Selection criteria were resistance to Phytophthora root rot, spotted alfalfa aphid and blue alfalfa aphid. Germplasm used in its development was WL-318 (80%) and Pike (20%). A good estimate regarding original germplasm source for WL-318 and Pike (therefore Meteor) is not possible.
2. Meteor is best adapted to areas of the West and Central U.S. where semidormant and moderately dormant cultivars are used. It will be used for general forage production and has been tested in California, Washington, Idaho, Oklahoma, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania.
3. Meteor is moderately fall dormant, similar to DuPuits. Flower color is approximately 99% purple and less than 1% cream, white, yellow or variegated.
4. Meteor has high resistance to spotted alfalfa aphid, blue alfalfa aphid, pea aphid, pea aphid, stem nematode and Fusarium wilt; resistance to Phytophthora root rot and bacterial wilt; low resistance to Verticillium wilt. It is susceptible to anthracnose.
5. Adequate breeder seed (Syn. 1) was produced during two years to last the life of the variety and seed was bulked. Seed classes will be breeder (Syn. 1), foundation (Syn. 2 or 3) and certified (Syn. 2, 3, or 4). Two generations of foundation seed may be produced at the discretion of Northrup King Co. Limitation on age of stand will be two, three and five years, respectively for productIon of breeder, foundation and certified.
6. Certified seed will be offered for sale in 1987.
7. It is undecided whether or not PVP will be applied for.
8. Information contained in this application may be turned over to the PVP office.