Theme 14: Advances in Forage Legumes

Description

Available crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.) cultivars in the USA flower approximately 2 weeks before annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.) which makes it difficult to manage a mixture of the two for reseeding. The objective of this study is the development of a crimson clover cultivar that flowers at approximately the same time as annual ryegrass and has a high level of hard seed to enhance reseeding. Selections for late maturity were made out of >Chief= crimson clover. After two cycles of selection for later maturity and one cycle for hard seed, nineteen half-sib lines were identified that were later maturing and had over 60% hard seed. Early growth of these lines was compared to >Dixie= crimson clover. Eight of these lines were selected to form an experimental cultivar that flowered approximately 2 weeks later than Dixie crimson.

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Selecting Crimson Clover for Hard Seed and Late Maturity

Available crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.) cultivars in the USA flower approximately 2 weeks before annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.) which makes it difficult to manage a mixture of the two for reseeding. The objective of this study is the development of a crimson clover cultivar that flowers at approximately the same time as annual ryegrass and has a high level of hard seed to enhance reseeding. Selections for late maturity were made out of >Chief= crimson clover. After two cycles of selection for later maturity and one cycle for hard seed, nineteen half-sib lines were identified that were later maturing and had over 60% hard seed. Early growth of these lines was compared to >Dixie= crimson clover. Eight of these lines were selected to form an experimental cultivar that flowered approximately 2 weeks later than Dixie crimson.