Premium
Anthracnose Resistance Increases Alfalfa Yields 1
Author(s) -
Elgin J. H.,
Barnes D. K.,
Busbice T. H.,
Buss G. R.,
Clark N. A.,
Cleveland R. W.,
Ditterline R. L.,
Evans D. W.,
Fransen S. C.,
Horrocks R. D.,
Hunt O. J.,
Kehr W. R.,
Lowe C. C.,
Miller D. A.,
Offutt M. S.,
Pickett R. C.,
Sorensen E. L.,
Taliaferro C. M.,
Tesar M. B.,
Van Keuren R. W.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.2135/cropsci1981.0011183x002100030026x
Subject(s) - biology , medicago sativa , forage , cultivar , agronomy , yield (engineering) , resistance (ecology) , horticulture , metallurgy , materials science
Development of high levels of anthracnose ( Colletotrichura trifolii Bain) resistance in alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) in the early 1970's stimulated interest in obtaining estimates of the increased productivity associated with resistance. This paper reports the results of forage yield trials established at 24 locations in the eastern, midwestern, and western United States. Each trial included four pairs of anthracnose‐susceptible and anthracnose‐resistant bioindicator strains: 1) Glacier and Beltsville 1‐An4, 2) Saranac and Beltsville 2‐An4, 3) Vernal and Beltsville 3‐An4, and 4) Team and Arc. Forge yields were recorded for 3 years at 18 locations and for 2 years at six locations. Average annual forage yields were significantly higher for the resistant strains than for the susceptible strains at 15 of the 24 locations, averaging 1.1 mt/ha/year (10%) greater for the resistant than for the susceptible strains. A 0.8 mt/ha/year (7%) yield advantage of resistant strains over susceptible strains was obtained over all 24 locations. These results clearly indicate the value of anthracnose‐resistant alfalfa cultivars to U,S. agriculture.