1. Wilson was developed by one cycle of phenotypic selection from the "field stress"* procedure for improved production under deficit levels of irrigation. Parent plants originated from Zia (80%), Mesilla (11%), Turkistan (3%), Baker (3%), and NC-83-2 (3%). Wilson is primarily of Turkistan (72%) and Chilean (22%) parentage.
2. Wilson has been tested and is intended for hay production in N.M. in areas with anticipated shortage of irrigation water.
3. Wilson is 100% purple flowered. Wilson is a moderately dormant variety with fall dormancy similar to Mesilla.
4. Wilson is resistant to bacterial wilt, Fusarium wilt and pea aphid; moderately resistant to spotted alfalfa aphid, and stem nematode; and susceptible to anthracnose, Phytophthora root rot, and the blue alfalfa aphid. Wilson has not been evaluated for resistance to Verticillium wilt.
5. Parent plants will be maintained by vegetative propagation and Syn 1 seed produced in replicated cages. Syn 2 seed (breeders seed) will be produced in geographic isolation blocks. Seed increase will be on a four generation basis. Stand longevity will be four years for breeders and foundation seed and six years for registered and certified. Breeders seed will be produced in N.M. and foundation, registered, and certified will be produced in NM, ID, CA, WA, and OR. Seed increase will be under the supervision of the N.M. Crop Improvement Association or other seed certifying agencies.
6. Certified seed will be available in 1989.
7. Application will not be made to the PVP.
8. Descriptive data will be made available to the PVP office.
* "The field stress procedure consists of 1) selecting a uniform, well-drained field, 2) seeding at 20 to 40 lbs/A using 2 or 3 irrigations for establishment, 3) no further irrigations, 4) select when 99% + of plants appear dead, 5) select for ability to live and grow under these conditions, 6) selections usually made in mid-summer of second year."