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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Madison, Wisconsin » U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #94090
Title: SELECTION FOR RESISTANCE TO MYCOLEPTODISCUS IN RED CLOVER AND TREFOIL

Author
item Smith, Richard
item GRAU, CRAIG - UNIV OF WISCONSIN-MADISON

Submitted to: Agronomy Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/20/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Soilborne pathogens are regarded as important causes of failures of newly established and mature stands of forage legumes in the North Central region of the U.S. One of these pathogens, Mycoleptodiscus terrestris, has recently been isolated from red clover and birdsfoot trefoil plants from forage stands in Wisconsin. Recurrent phenotypic selection was initiated in nboth red clover and birdsfoot trefoil to develop germplasm resistant to M. terrestris. In red clover, 25% of the plants have been identified as resistant to the pathogen after two cycles of selection in contrast to only 3% in the initial population. In birdsfoot trefoil, over 40% of the plants express the resistant reaction after two cycles of selection in contrast to 9% in the original population. Selection for resistance is continuing in both legume species.