AGRO-MORPHOLOGICAL AND FORAGE QUALITY TRAITS OF SELECTED ALFALFA POPULATIONS AND THEIR APPLICATION IN BREEDING

Abstract

The objectives of this research were to evaluate agro-morphological and forage quality performances of selected alfalfa populations and to predict the genetic potential of this populations as a source of the material for breeding programs and/or commercial use. Twenty selected alfalfa populations and two control cultivars were tested over three consecutive years (2008, 2009, 2010) at the experimental field of the Agricultural Institute Osijek in Croatia. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with three replications. The plot size was 6 m2 at the sowing rate of 15 kg ha-1 . A total of fifteen traits were measured/analysed on all plots and/or individual plants of all populations and cultivars. Significant differences were determined between alfalfa populations/cultivars in all investigated traits, except for content of crude protein in dry matter. The highest three-years average yields (from 86.32 to 101.12 t ha-1 for green mass, from 17.45 to 20.46 t ha-1 for dry matter, from 3657 to 4289 kg ha-1 for crude protein) and favourable values for the most of the investigated morphological and forage quality traits were obtained in populations MSP 16,8,1,9,20,11,10. Seven superior alfalfa populations were identified which could represent a valuable source of genetic material for further selection and improvement of our breeding program and/or application for plant cultivar registration.