HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Smith, S. R. Articles by Bouton, J. H. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Smith, S. R., Jr. Articles by Bouton, J. H. Agricola Articles by Smith, S. R. Articles by Bouton, J. H.

Seed Yield of Grazing-Tolerant Alfalfa Germplasms

Dep. of Agronomy, Univ. of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602

^* Corresponding author.

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) cultivars tolerant to grazing usually have poor seed yields. This study compared grazing-tolerant alfalfa cultivars and germplasms to hay-type cultivars for seed yield in Georgia and determined the relationship of certain plant characters to seed yield. Hay-type (‘Apollo’ and ‘Florida 77’) and grazing-type (‘Spredor II’ and ‘Travois’) cultivars and two alfalfa germplasms selected for survival under continuous grazing in Georgia (GA-GC and GA-WCG) as well as the representative base populations of GA-WCG were established as replicated spaced plants for seed production over a 2-yr period. Measurements of raceme number, seeds per pod, and seed weight did not attain biologically significant correlations with seed yield. Grazing-tolerant germplasms, GA-GC and GA-WCG, produced seed and forage yields higher than the grazing-type cultivars and equivalent to the hay-type cultivars. Comparisons between GA-WCG and its base population indicate that seed and forage yields were maintained while the population was shifted toward a more decumbent growth habit and earlier fall dormancy. In this experiment alfalfa seed and forage yields were not sacrificed in the development of grazing-tolerant cultivars.

Received for publication October 11, 1988.