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 pattern of inheritance
for plant biomass and quality traits. Alfalfa genotypes were crossed with line × tester crossing design. 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 various magnitude as well as directions. The analysis of general combining ability 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 on the basis of
better yield and good quality traits. Fresh plant weight, plant heights, plant dry weights and crude protein were additively
controlled genetically. Total plant height, plant fresh weight, dry weights, number of nodes of each plant, its crude protein
contents, ash contents and forage yield per plant may be used as vital factors for the betterment of biomass and forage yield
and its quality. Selected crosses from the present study were comparable with commercial varieties. These crosses are
suggested to develop the high and better yielding types in alfalfa.
Tariq Javaid, Hafeez Ahmad Sadaqat, Muhammad Ahsan Iqbal, Muhammad Ashfaq Wahid. (2020) DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH FORAGE YIELD AND BETTER-QUALITY ALFALFA POPULATION, Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Sciences, Volume 57, Issue 3.
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