Evaluation of Dormancy and Winter Hardiness of Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa L.) Experimental Lines, Obtained by Crossing Parental Lines Characterized Within the Framework of the PERMED Project

Abstract

The European research project PERMED (Improvement of native perennial forage plants to enhance sustainability of Mediterranean farming systems; 2004 – 2008) has carried out a detailed, large-scale characterization of alfalfa cultivars of different origin in the Mediterranean region, in order to study the genetic variability available for breeding programs. Two cultivars, with superior but contrasting performance in the Mediterranean environment, were chosen as parental lines for a breeding program initiated by Società Produttori Sementi S.p.A. in 2009: the Italian variety Prosementi and the Moroccan landrace Demnat 203. Prosementi is a winter hardy, semi-dormant (Fall Dormancy Index (FDI) 6) cultivar that has a high and constant yield in rainfed condition. It has adaptations to a wide range of environmental conditions. Demnat 203 is a non-dormant population (FDI 11) and has a specific adaptation to frequent cuts under warm, irrigated condition (oasis). The aim of the breeding program is to develop new genotypes with low dormancy, good winter hardiness and high forage yields. The breeding scheme was based on open-pollinated crossing of 84 parent plants for each cultivar in spatial isolation and on subsequent half-sib selection with progeny testing. Three advanced lines derived from this breeding program (PSB QM 4, QM 5, QM 6) are now under evaluation in field trials located in two different Italian areas (Ravenna in Northeast Italy, 44°25′4″44 N, 12°11′58″92 E, and Cagliari in Sardinia, 39°13′24″96 N, 09°7′5″16 E).