Biligetu, B.

Toews, J.

English

University of Saskatchewan Research Archive

www.usask.caEvaluation of Parent Plants for Alfalfa BreedingJacqueline Toewswww.usask.caStructure▪ Background▪ Experimental Design▪ Experiment 1: Soil Sample Study▪ Experiment 2: Morphological Study▪ Experiment 3: Forage Quality Study▪ Experiment 4: Verticillium Wilt Disease Analysiswww.usask.caAlfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)▪ Legume▪ Widespread in temperate regions (Rumbaugh et al., 1988; Iannucci et al., 2002)▪ High performance animal feed used for grazing or stockpiled feed (Smith et al., 2000)▪ Stand persistence is economically important (Wright, 1976)▪ Breeding objectives: persistent and locally adapted cultivarswww.usask.caBackground▪ 25+ year alfalfa stands▪ 4 soil zones▪ 13 siteswww.usask.caEach Site Has a Different HistoryRockhaven – Black Soil ZoneErwood – Grey Soil ZoneShellbrook – Grey Soil Zonewww.usask.caFrom Field to the Greenhousewww.usask.caExperimental Design▪ Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD)• 13 Populations• 4 Replications• Each population has 3 plants/repwww.usask.caExperiment 1: Soil Sample Study▪ Hypothesis 1: Soil characteristics of the 13 sites will be similar.▪ Soil sampled at 11 sites• ALS Laboratory Group Agricultural Services in Saskatoon, SKwww.usask.caExperiment 1: Soil Sample StudySite NameSoil Zone Soil TexturepHSoil Extractable Nutrient Levels (kg/ha)**NO3-N P K SO4-SCrooked River Grey Loam 6.8 3 25 754 8Shellbrook Grey Loam 7.8 4 13 548 8Erwood Grey Loam 7.2 10 85 1131 13MacDowall Black Loam 6.9 10 7 1054 8Duck Lake Black Sandy Loam 7.6 7 75 691 8Rockhaven Black Loam 6.5 6 10 1020 10Arcola Black Loam 7.9 15 12 >1344 18Ceylon Brown Loam 8.0 11 22 585 8Gull Lake Brown Loam 8.4 11 22 538 20Val Marie Brown Loam 7.7 8 13 1103 11Moose Jaw Brown Loam 8.0 21 16 704 >108Dalmeny Dark Brown - - - - - -Pike Lake Dark Brown - - - - - -www.usask.caExperiment 2: Morphological Study▪ Hypothesis 2: Morphological characteristics will be similar among populations derived from the same soil zones.▪ Morphological Data Collection• Height and Regrowth Height• Flower Colour• Presence of Red Stem• Multifoliate Leaf Expression• Dry Matter Yield (DMY) and Regrowth DMYwww.usask.caExperiment 2: Morphological Study▪ Flower Colour▪ Trifoliate Leaf Expression▪ Presence of Red StemsCream Light Purple Purple Yellow      Photo Credit: http://www.alforexseeds.com/alfalfa-product/hi-gest-360/www.usask.caExperiment 2: Morphological StudyA AB AB Ba a ab01020304050607080Grey Black Dark Brown BrownHeight (cm)Soil ZoneForage Height Regrowth Heightwww.usask.caExperiment 2: Morphological Study0.001.002.003.004.005.006.007.008.009.0010.00Crooked RiverShellbrookErwoodMacDowallDuck LakeRockhavenArcolaDalmenyPike LakeCeylonGull LakeVal MarieMoose JawForage DMY (g)www.usask.caExperiment 3: Forage Quality Study▪ Hypothesis 3: Forage quality characteristics will be similar among populations derived from the same soil zones.▪ Forage Quality Analysis• Crude Protein (CP) - Leco 628 Element Analyzer • Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF) and Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF) -Ankom2000 automated fiber analyzer www.usask.caExperiment 3: Forage Quality StudyABABB024681012141618Grey Black Dark Brown BrownCrude Protein (%DM)Soil Zonewww.usask.caExperiment 4: Verticillium Wilt Disease Analysis▪ Hypothesis 4: Populations of alfalfa from the black soil zone should be more resistant to Verticillium albo-atrum than populations of alfalfa from other soils zones in Saskatchewan.www.usask.caExperiment 4: Verticillium Wilt Disease Analysis▪ Spore Suspension: 1.38 x 106 conidia spores/ml water▪ Stubble Spray Inoculationwww.usask.caExperiment 4: Verticillium Wilt Disease Analysis▪ Visual symptoms evaluated• Leaflets had V-shaped yellow or pink chlorosis• Dry or pink colour of stemswww.usask.caConclusions▪ Optimal soil characteristics are important for ensuring the longevity of an alfalfa stand▪ Forage characteristics vary between and among alfalfa populations▪ Forage characteristics should be evaluated based on physiological growth stage▪ A higher concentration of conidia spores should be used in a Verticillium wilt disease study▪ In plant breeding, one can never collect too much datawww.usask.caAcknowledgements▪ Dr. Bill Biligetu and the University of Saskatchewan Forage Group▪ Cheryl Cho and the Pulse Pathology Lab▪ College of Agriculture and Bioresources Greenhouse Staff

Evaluation of parent plants for alfalfa breeding

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Evaluation of parent plants for alfalfa breeding

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