1. Sabre is a synthetic variety
derived from crossing Oneida VR with a Flemish population. The Flemish
population was germplasm with origin similar to that of Saranac AR, backcrossed
once with Saranac AR, then phenotypically selected for resistance to anthracnose
(Race 1). Parent plants of Sabre were the result of recurrent phenotypic
selection for resistances to
anthracnose (Race 1), Verticillium wilt, Fusarium wilt, and Phytophthora
root rot. Pre-breeder (Syn. 1) seed was a bulk of an equal weight of seed
from 18 clones with high number of seeds/pod after open-pollination by
honeybees (in an enclosed room) among the 354 plants from the last
cycle of selection for disease resistance. Syn. 1 seed was planted to produce
breeder seed (Syn. 2) under cage isolations in Nampa, Idaho in 1986, 1987,
and 1988. Breeder seed lots will be bulked for future planting for foundation
seed production. Approximate germplasm sources contributed to this variety
are 70% Flemish, 22% M. varia, 4% M. falcata, 2%
Ladak, 1% Turkestan,
and 1% Chilean.
2. Sabre is adapted to and intended for use in the northern United States for hay, haylage, greenchop, and dehydration. It has been tested in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New York, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
3. Sabre is a moderately dormant variety with fall dormancy reaction similar to that of Saranac. Flower color is 70% purple and 30% variegated, and trace of yellow and cream.
4. Sabre has high resistance to anthracnose (Race 1), bacterial wilt, Fusarium wilt, Verticillium wilt, and pea aphid; resistance to Phytophthora root rot; and moderate resistance to stem nematode. It is susceptible to spotted alfalfa aphid. It has not been tested for resistance to blue alfalfa aphid.
5. Breeder seed (Syn. 2) was
produced under cage isolations in Idaho in sufficient quantity to last
the life of the variety. Seed produced in 1986, 1987, and 1988 will be
bulked for future production of foundation seed. This seed is maintained
by the Department of Plant Breeding & Biometry at Cornell University.
Foundation seed (Syn. 3)
may be produced from breeder
seed in the northern USA on stands no more than 3 years old unless by consent
of the breeder. Production of foundation seed requires approval from the
New York Seed Improvement Cooperative. Certified seed (Syn. 3 or 4) may
be produced from breeder or foundation seed on stands no more than 6 years
old.
6. Certified seed was first marketed in 1989.
7. Application for Plant Variety Protection will not be made.
8. This information may be forwarded
to the PVP office.