Early Test to Determine the Effectiveness of Selection Made for Resistance for Frequent Cutting and Persistence Ability of Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa L.)

Abstract

The problem of resistance to frequent cutting has been studied by numerous authors since 1970 (Demarly and Guy 1970 cit. Mansat 1972; Arcioni et al. 1980, Veronesi et al. 1981, 1982, 1986; Bócsa et al. 1980, 1983). Until now the results of selection have resulted in improvement of persistence (Veronesi 1982) but in general the authors have reported the results after only one or two selection cycles. Usually the early cut was made during the complectly vegetative stage (30–40 cm in height) and the control plots were cut at 10 % blooming, always using at the beginning of the second year adult field grown plants. The duration of the testing was generally two years wich is less than one selection cycle.