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Variation and Heritability of Protein Concentration in Various Alfalfa Plant Parts¹

Significant estimates of genetic and nongenetic variances were obtained for the protein concentration of top leaves and stems, midleaves and stems, and the total herbage (above 5 cm) of alfalfa (Medicago saliva L.) plants. Broad-sense heritability estimates indicated that clonal selection for higher protein concentration in all plant parts was possible. Heritability estimates for the total herbage were consistently equal to or greater than estimates for plant parts. The protein concentration in each plant part generally was significantly correlated with the protein concentration of the total herbage. The relationships were not strong enough, however, to suggest that analysis of a plant part could be used as a predictor of the protein concentration of the total herbage. Thus, selection of high- or low-protein plants may be accomplished best on the basis of protein analysis of the total herbage.

Key Words: Medicago sativa L. • Forage protein • Selection procedure

² Research Assistant (now Asst. Prof., Department of Agronomy, University of Minnesota) and professor of Plant Genetics, respectively.

Received for publication April 12, 1972.