WL 451
WATERMAN -LOOMIS COMPANY, BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA
1. Mass selection was practiced on nearly 300,000 plants in 1964, most of which had been tested for stand longevity at Bakersfield, California. The ultimate 1006 plants selected had been screened for spotted alfalfa aphid and/or pea aphid resistance and for root rotting organisms common to the area. Six hundred plants trace to Lahontan or Lahontan crossed, 356 plants to generations preceding WL 504. Six each of five clones showing longevity at Piper City, Illinois and 20 spotted and pea aphid resistant plants of N 529 were allowed to interpollinate in isolation to produce Breeder seed.
2. WL 451 is adapted to portions of the Southwestern United States similar to the Northern San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys requiring varieties more dormant than Moapa but less dormant than Lahontan. It has been tested in Arizona, California, Southern Nevada and Southern Utah. Its intended usage is for hay, silage and dehydration.
3. Flower color is predominately purple to light purple, 2% of the flowers white to slightly variegated, moderately uniform and upright in growth habit, moderately resistant to bacterial wilt, tolerant to downy mildew and pea aphid, resistant to unknown local biotypes of the spotted alfalfa aphid present in the Kern County, California area.
4. Breeder seed was produced by the interpollination of the selected clones as set forth in No. 1 above. Seed increase shall be in the limited generation sequence with one generation each of Breeder, Foundation, and Certified seed classes. Certified seed shall be the first generation increase of Breeder or Foundation seed.
Foundation and Certified seed classes are limited to the San Joaquin Valley of California or similar areas.
5. 1973-1974.
6. No.