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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Madison, Wisconsin » U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #181848
Title: PERSISTENCE AND YIELD STABILITY OF INTERSUBSPECIFIC ALFALFA HYBRIDS

Author
item Riday, Heathcliffe
item BRUMMER, CHARLES - IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Crop Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/10/2005
Publication Date: 3/27/2006
Citation: Riday, H., Brummer, C.E. 2006. Persistence and yield stability of intersubspecific alfalfa hybrids. Crop Science. 46:1058-1063.

Interpretive Summary: Alfalfa hybrid 3-5th stand year yield and persistence are unknown. This study shows that hybrid yield declines in relation to parental types in the later years of an alfalfa stand. This study also shows that alfalfa hybrids have equivalent persistence to the more persistent parental genotype. This study indicates that alfalfa hybrid development needs to focus on 3-5th year alfalfa stand yields to ensure superior hybrids.

Technical Abstract: Longer term persistence and sustained biomass yields of alfalfa (M. sativa) stands are important for producers. Yield performance and persistence of intrasubspecific crosses between alfalfa subsp. sativa and falcata after the first post-establishment year are unknown. The objectives of this study were to measure biomass yields, persistence, and biomass yield stability in inter and intrasubspecific alfalfa crosses. Nine elite sativa clones and five falcata clones were crossed in a diallel mating design. Progeny were space planted in 1998 at Ames and Nashua, IA and evaluated for persistence, biomass yield, and biomass yield stability from 1998 through 2002. Sativa by falcata hybrids produced substantial biomass yield and exhibited heterosis through the first post-establishment year, but declined in subsequent years. During that period, intersubspecific hybrids were equivalent to the more persistent hybrids derived from crosses among sativa genotypes; however, the hybrid persistence levels declined somewhat in relation to the sativa crosses in later years. Surprisingly, intrasubspecific hybrids had less biomass yield stability than the more stable intrasubspecific sativa crosses. Selection of improved falcata germplasm for long term persistence and higher yield is needed.