PJB-2018-908
DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH FORAGE YIELD AND BETTER-QUALITY ALFALFA (Medicago sativa L.) POPULATION
TARIQ JAVAID
Abstract
Abstract Alfalfa is the world’s best fodder due to its high protein, high calcium, low fiber and high digestibility. Experiment was planned to find out the potential in alfalfa breeding material for high biomass yield, quality traits and to understand the inheritance pattern of the mechanism of plant-related traits. Alfalfa accessions were hybridized with line × tester crossing fashion. The developed breeding material was evaluated and best cross combinations were selected. Presence of genetic variability in developed germplasm directed to exploit the better forage yield and quality related characters in alfalfa population. Combining ability analyses revealed different direction and magnitude. General combining ability results showed that lines 533624, 601244, 206574, 263154 and 199279, testers 39483 and 40095 were considered as potential parents and crosses 533624 39483, 206574 39483, 533624 672753, 206574 672753, 262544 40095 and 37522 37530 were best crosses. Fresh plant weight, plant heights, plant dry weights and crude protein were under the genetic control with additive gene action while other traits showing non-additive gene action. Plant height, plant fresh weight, dry weight, number of nodes per plant, crude protein, ash contents and forage yield per plant may be used as vital factors for improvement of biomass yield, forage yield and its quality. Selected crosses from the present study are comparable with commercial varieties. These crosses are suggested for the improvement of high yielding and better-quality types in alfalfa.
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