44. Volume 15- Number 2 - IP Australia

PLANT VARIETIES JOURNAL 2002 VOL 15 NO. 2
Origin and Breeding Controlled pollination and recurrent
phenotypic selection: ‘Super 7’ was derived from advanced
SARDI breeding populations. Parent plants were selected
over many generations in glasshouse and field sites.
Selection criteria: resistance to pests and diseases
(Phytophthora, Anthracnose, Spotted Alfalfa Aphid, Blue
Green Aphid, and Stem Nematode), forage regrowth and
plant persistence. Breeder’s seed derived from more than
250 plants in the final generation of selection. Propagation:
by seed. Breeders: Mr. G.C. Auricht and Mr. E.T Kobelt,
SARDI, Adelaide, SA.
Choice of Comparators Grouping characteristics used in
identifying the most similar varieties of common
knowledge were – Autumn-Winter Growth: moderate
activity (7), Resistance to diseases: Phytophthora MR to
HR, Anthracnose MR to HR. Resistance to Aphids: Spotted
Alfalfa Aphid R to HR, Blue Green Aphid R to HR. On the
basis of these grouping characteristics the following
comparator varieties were included in the trial: ‘Aurora’,
‘Genesis’ A , ‘Hallmark’ A , ‘Quadrella’ A , ‘Trifecta’, and
‘UQL-1’ A .
Comparative Trial Location: Howlong, NSW (Latitude
36º00′ South, elevation 150m), autumn 2000 to Nov. 2001.
Conditions: field trial of observation rows and plots of
spaced plants, 20 plants per plot, plant spacing in plots
20cm. Trial irrigated, fertilised, and pests controlled as
required. Trial design: Eighty plants of each variety in 4
plots arranged in a completely randomised design.
Measurements: from up to eighty plants at random. One
sample per plant. Glasshouse tests for disease and aphid
resistance were conducted according to the methods
described in Standard Tests to Characterize Alfalfa
Cultivars (3rd Ed.) published by North American Alfalfa
Improvement Conference. These tests rated 200 or more
seedlings in a completely randomised design with 6 or 12
reps.
Prior Applications and Sales
No prior applications. First sold in Australia in Jun 2000.
Description: E. Kobelt, SARDI, Adelaide, SA.
Table 21a Medicago varieties
‘Super 7’ *‘Aurora’ *‘Genesis’ A *‘Hall- *‘Quad- *‘Trifecta’ *‘UQL-1’ A
mark’ A rella’ A
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PLANT HEIGHT (cm) 20/03/01 (height in autumn)
mean 20.4 20.8 21.8 16.3 17.9 18.2 17.9
std deviation 3.6 4.1 4.8 3.6 4.1 4.4 3.4
LSD/sig 3.5 ns ns P≤0.01 ns ns ns
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LEAFLET LENGTH (mm) (central leaflet, 21/9/01)
mean 28.1 30.2 29.5 32.1 31.5 31.3 31.0
std deviation 2.8 4.1 2.6 3.1 2.7 1.7 3.0
LSD/sig 3.3 ns ns P≤0.01 P≤0.01 ns ns
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PLANT GROWTH HABIT (observed in rows; 1=Erect, 5=Intermediate, 9=Prostrate)
2.5 3 1.5 3 3.5 2 3.5
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TIME OF BEGINNING OF FLOWERING (plots rated; 3=Early, 5= Medium, 7=Late)
medium medium medium early medium medium medium
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RESISTANCE TO SPOTTED ALFALFA APHID (% seedlings rated 1 and 2; 5= Very Susceptible)
mean 34.0 50.0 20.7 32.0 n/a 16.7 n/a
std deviation 12.1 4.9 8.2 8.0 n/a 6.4 n/a
LSD/sig 11.7 P≤0.01 P≤0.01 ns n/a P≤0.01 n/a
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RESISTANCE TO PHYTOPHTHORA ROOT ROT (% seedlings rated 1 and 2; 5= Very Susceptible)
mean 50.0 41.5 37.8 24.8 n/a 41.8 n/a
std deviation 6.6 6.5 10.4 6.1 n/a 5.2 n/a
LSD/sig 9.95 ns P≤0.01 P≤0.01 n/a ns n/a
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RESISTANCE TO COLLETOTRICHUM CROWN ROT (% seedlings rated 1 and 2; 5= Very Susceptible)
mean 53.7 38.0 32.7 55.0 n/a 34.0 n/a
std deviation 6.9 7.3 9.5 11.1 n/a 5.8 n/a
LSD/sig 7.6 P≤0.01 P≤0.01 ns n/a P≤0.01 n/a
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