LIGHTNING II
1. Lightning II is a synthetic variety with 11 parent clones. Parentswere selected for forageyield, persistence, forage quality, rapid recoveryafter cutting, and multifoliolate expression fromtwo-and three-year-old Wisconsinbreeding nurseries. Parents trace to breeding populationsselected for multifoliolateexpression and resistance to one or more of the following pests:bacterialwilt, Fusarium. wilt, Phytophthora root rot, Aphanomyces root rot (race 1),Verticillium, wilt, anthracnose (race 1), Leptosphaerulina, leaf spot, peaaphid and spottedalfalfa aphid. Recurrent phenotypic selection was used.Germplasm sources used in developingLightning II were: DK 127 (25%), Lightning(20%), LegenDairy 2.0 (15%), Rushmore (10%),Excalibur II (10%), 5262 (10%),Magnum III (5%) and G2852 (5%). Syn1 was produced nearNampa, Idaho, in 1995,harvested in total and bulked to form breeder seed. Approximategermplasmsource contributions are: M. falcate (6%), Ladak (4%), M varia(32%), Turkistan(3%), Flemish (52%), and Chilean (3%).
2. This variety is adapted to thenorth central United States and intended for use in the northcentral UnitedStates. It has been tested in Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota.
3. Fall dormancy of this variety is similar to the FD4 checks and wintersurvival of this variety issimilar to WSI checks. Flower color in the syn2is 75% purple and 25% variegated, with a traceof cream, white, and yellow.Lightning II has high multifoliolate leaf expression.
4. This variety has high resistanceto anthracnose (race 1), bacterial wilt, Fusarium wilt, spottedalfalfa aphid,Phytophthora root rot and Aphanomyces root rot (race 1); resistance toVerticilliumwilt; and moderate resistance to stem nematode and pea aphid. Reaction tobluealfalfa aphid and root knot nematodehas not been tested.
5. Seed increase is on a limited generationbasis with one generation of breeder and twogenerations of foundation andcertified seed classes. Breeder (syn1), foundation (syn2 or 3), andcertified(syn3 or 4) classes will be recognized. Production of syn3 foundation seedrequiresconsent of the breeder. Breeder seed was produced near Nampa, Idaho, in 1995. Sufficientfoundation seed for the projected life of the variety will be maintained by Forage Genetics.Stands of foundation and certified seed fields are limited to three and fiveyears, respectively.
6. Certified seed will be marketedin 1999.
7. No decision has been made concerningPlant Variety Protection Act.
8. This information can not be forwardedto the Plant Variety Protection office.
9. Variety name: Lightning II
Experimental designations: FG 4G65
Date first accepted: January 1999
Date this amendment submitted: November1, 1999