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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Madison, Wisconsin » U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #213852
Title: WITT - Lotus corniculatus Variety

Author
item Smith, Richard
item Riday, Heathcliffe

Submitted to: Germplasm Release
Publication Type: Germplasm Release
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/28/2007
Publication Date: 5/7/2007
Citation: Smith, R.R., Riday, H. 2007. Witt - lotus corniculatus variety. Germplasm Release.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: WITT, a bridsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) variety, is an eleven-clone synthetic selected for third-year persistence in competition with Poa pratensis (common bluegrass) and for plant yield, seed yield, and seed size. The eleven clones were selected from the University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario germplasm lines RC3 Syn 3 (three clones), RC3sp Syn3 (two clones), and RC4 Syn2 (six clones). These three Guelph germplasm lines were derived from the cultivar, Leo. RC4 Syn 2 was released in 1997 by the Department of Crop Science, University of Guelph, guelph, Ontario as the cultivar, OAC Bright (Twamley, et al. 1997. Can. J. Plant SCi. 77:251-253). In 1979, plants representing each Guelph germplasm line and the cultivars Viking, Leo, Maryland 1, Maitland, Dawn, Carroll, Empire, and Norcen were established in a replicated trial on the University of Wisconsin Agricultural Research Station at Arlington, WI. The experiment was overseeded with Poa pratensis and routinely harvested in 1979, 1980, and 1981. Data were collected in 1979, 1980, and 1981 on all plants for vigor, growth type, maturity, visual forage yield, and seed yield. Seed was harvestwed from 110 surviving plants of the Guelph germplasm in the fall of 1981. In 1982, areplicated progeny row test of the 110 selected plants was established. The elven orginal plants established in 1979 were then chosen on the basis of the progeny row data and the 1979, 1980, and 1981 data. WITT has been tested in experimental trials as WITT, WITT-I, and WITT-II. Breeder seed is maintained by the USDA-ARS. Further information on WITT can be obtained by contacting Heathcliffe Riday (Heathcliffe.Riday@ARS.USDA.GOV), U.S. Dairy Forage REsearch Center, USDA-ARS, 1925 Linden Drive West, Madison, WI 53706. U.S. plant variety protecition has been requested for WITT (PVP No.:200700300)