Seed companies rolled out 37 new conventional, proprietary alfalfa varieties this year.
Nineteen are listed in the National Alfalfa & Forage Alliance NAFA pamphlet (NAFA) pamphlet, along with insect and disease resistance ratings. Eligible for certification by seed certifying agencies, now that they have National Alfalfa & Miscellaneous Legumes Variety Review Board approval, they are:
Fall Dormancy 2:
3010 – BrettYoung;
PGI 215 – Producer’s Choice.
Fall Dormancy 3:
eXclaim, marketed by LG Seeds and AgReliant Genetics, exhibits moderate multifoliolate leaf expression. It has high resistance to anthracnose, race 1; aphanomyces, race 1; bacterial, fusarium and verticillium wilts; phytophthora root rot; pea aphid; and stem nematode. The variety is resistant to blue alfalfa aphid.
Ezra, sold by Seedway, LLC, has high resistance to anthracnose, race 1, and fusarium wilt; with resistance to phytophthora root rot and verticillium and bacterial wilts. The variety, developed by Cornell University breeders, is susceptible to aphanomyces, race 1.
Fall Dormancy 4:
4S417, from Mycogen Seeds, has high resistance to bacterial, fusarium and verticillium wilts; phytophthora root rot; anthracnose, race 1; aphanomyces, race 1; and northern root knot and stem nematodes. It provides moderate resistance to southern root knot nematode.
AmeriStand 445NT, marketed by America’s Alfalfa, exhibits moderate multifoliolate leaf expression. The variety has high resistance to bacterial and fusarium wilts; phytophthora root rot; spotted alfalfa aphid; stem nematode; anthracnose, race 1; and northern root knot nematode. It shows resistance to verticillium wilt; aphanomyces, race 1; and pea aphid.
AV4211, from AgVenture, has high resistance to bacterial, fusarium and verticillium wilts; phytophthora root rot; anthracnose, race 1; aphanomyces, race 1; and stem and northern root knot nematodes. It is resistant to aphanomyces, race 2, and offers moderate resistance to southern root knot nematode.
Dairyland Seed’s HybriForce-2420/Wet is a branch-root hybrid alfalfa offering high resistance to bacterial, fusarium and verticillium wilts; phytophthora root rot; anthracnose, race 1; aphanomyces, race 1; and northern root knot and stem nematodes. It shows resistance to aphanomyces, race 2, and southern root knot nematode.
LS 604, marketed by Byron Seeds, has high resistance to anthracnose, race 1; bacterial and fusarium wilts; phytophthora root rot; and aphanomyces, race 1. It is resistant to verticillium wilt.
A Chemgro Seeds variety, Milestone II is highly resistant to bacterial, fusarium and verticillium wilts; phytophthora root rot; anthracnose, race 1; aphanomyces, race 1; and stem and northern root knot nematodes. It shows resistance to aphanomyces, race 2, and southern root knot nematode.
Radiance HD, from Ampac Seed, has high resistance to anthracnose, race 1; bacterial and fusarium wilts; phytophthora root rot; and aphanomyces, race 1. It is resistant to verticillium wilt.
Rebound 6.0, from Croplan Genetics, has high multifoliolate leaf expression. The alfalfa has high resistance to anthracnose, race 1; bacterial, fusarium, and verticillium wilts; phytophthora root rot; aphanomyces, races 1 and 2; and spotted alfalfa aphid. It’s resistant to pea aphid and stem nematode.
Red Falcon BR, from Blue River Hybrids, has high resistance to bacterial, fusarium and verticillium wilts; phytophthora root rot; anthracnose, race 1; aphanomyces, race 1; and stem and northern root knot nematodes. It’s resistant to aphanomyces, race 2.
Fall Dormancy 5:
Triple Trust 500, from Central Farm Supply, has high resistance to anthracnose, race 1; bacterial, fusarium and verticillium wilts; phytophthora root rot; aphanomyces, race 1; and pea aphid. It’s resistant to northern root knot nematode and showsmoderate resistance to stem nematode.
Fall Dormancy 9:
Triple Play, marketed by Dyna-Gro Seed, has high resistance to fusarium wilt; phytophthora root rot; northern root knot nematode; and pea, spotted alfalfa and blue alfalfa aphids. It is resistant to stem nematode and shows moderate resistance to anthracnose, race 1, and verticillium wilt. It has low resistance to bacterial wilt.
The following five varieties are being marketed for this coming planting season and are in the process of gaining approval of the review board, which meets December of each year:
Fall Dormancy 4:
Legacy 449-APH2, from Legacy Seeds, is highly resistant to bacterial, fusarium and verticillium wilts; phytophthora root rot; anthracnose, race 1; and aphanomyces, races 1 and 2.
ReNew, from T.A. Seeds, exhibits high resistance to bacterial, fusarium and verticillium wilts; phytophthora root rot; anthracnose, race 1; aphanomyces, race 1; and northern root knot and stem nematodes. It’s resistant to aphanomyces, race 2, and shows moderate resistance to southern root knot nematode.
Seneca, marketed by R.M. Seeds, has high resistance to bacterial, fusarium and verticillium wilts; antracnose, race 1; phytophthora root rot; aphanomyces, race 1; and stem and northern root knot nematodes. It shows resistance to aphanomyces, race 2.
NuTech Seed’s Sonic has high resistance to bacterial, fusarium and verticillium wilts; antracnose, race 1; phytophthora root rot; aphanomyces, races 1 and 2; and stem and northern root knot nematodes.
Fall Dormancy 6:
BrettYoung’s 6010 alfalfa is highly resistant to bacterial, fusarium and verticillium wilts; antracnose, race 1; phytophthora root rot; and northern root knot nematode. It’s resistant to pea aphid, stem nematode and aphanomyces, race 1, with moderate resistance to southern root knot nematode.
Company Contact Info:
AgReliant Genetics – 317-896-5552; AgVenture – 888-999-0859; Ampac Seed – 541-928-1651; Blue River Hybrids – 800-370-7979; Byron Seeds – 800-801-3596; Central Farm Supply – 859-588-0265; Chemgro Seeds – 800-346-4769; Dyna-Gro Seed – www.dynagroseed.com; Legacy Seeds – 866-791-6390; LG Seeds – 800-752-6847; Millborn Seeds – 888-498-7333; Mycogen – 800-692-6436; Renk Seed – 800-289-7365; NuTech Seed– 800-942-6748; R.M. Seeds – 866-399-3640; Seedway, LLC – 800-952-7333; T.A. Seeds – 866-753-5503.