WL Southern Special
1. WL Southern Special is a 128 clone synthetic variety. The 128 clones were derived from test field selections of WL 311 (59 clones) and WL 318 (12 clones) and from selection for intermediate dormancy within a series of experimental cage combinations (57 clones) that had been screened for bacterial wilt, Phytophthora root rot, pea aphid and spotted alfalfa aphid, and tolerance to Lepto leaf spot. Source material traces primarily to Vernal, Atlantic, Saranac, Kanza and Ranger.
2. WL Southern Special is a moderately winter variety adapted for use in the southern US for hay, haylage, and dehydration purposes. WL Southern Special has been tested in California, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, and Oklahoma, and will be marketed primarily from Maryland to Florida and west to California.
3. Approximately 28% of the flowers are dark purple with 70% purple to light purple, 1% green and 1% white. Midsummer growth is erect, with fall growth similar to that of DuPuits.
4. WL Southern Special has resistance to bacterial wilt, Fusarium wilt, pea aphid and spotted alfalfa aphid, and moderate resistance to anthracnose and Phytophthora root rot. It has not been evaluated adequately for reaction to stem nematode.
5. Breeder seed (Syn 1) was produced on the parent clones at Bakersfield, California, in 1977. Foundation seed (Syn 2) and registered seed (Syn 3) was produced in California, with sufficient registered seed produced for the life of the variety. A maximum of two harvest years are permitted for stands producing foundation seed, with 3 and 5 harvest years permitted for stands producing registered and certified seed, respectively.
6. Certified seed will be marketed in 1983.
7. Application will not be made for Plant Variety Protection.