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Calif. Alfalfa Improvement Including Breeding, Production 



and Management Practices . (1) Develop "by breeding methods, 

 strains of alfalfa resistant to: bacterial wilt, dwarf 

 disease, leaf diseases, root and crown rotting organisms, 

 aphids, and nematodes; improve quality and yield of 

 alfalfa by breeding; develop basic data on genetics 

 and cytogenetics of alfalfa; develop basic data on 

 fundamental nature of resistance to certain disease and 

 insects; and evaluate new alfalfa varieties for forage. 

 (2) To improve management practices to obtain highest 

 possible production of total digestible nutrients per 

 acre, study: time of cutting, curing process, water 

 management, fertilization, weed and pest control, 

 harvesting practices and equipment, and varietal relation- 

 ship to management practices. (3) Study to improve manage- 

 ment practices to obtain highest possible production of 

 high quality seed by investigating: condition of stand, 

 water management, pollination problems, weed and pest 

 control, plant population studies regarding seed production, 

 evaluation of varieties for yield, and effect of production 

 practices on quality. 



Agron 972 Coop. ARS 



Calif. Breeding Alfalfa Adapted to Desert Vall e y Areas of 

 Southwestern United States with Special Emphas i s on 

 Resistance to Spotted Alfalfa Aphid (Therioaphis Maculata) , 

 Develop a variety of alfalfa of superior yield and 

 adaptation to desert valleys of southwest by (l) breeding 

 for resistance to yellow clover aphid, (2) continuing and 

 expanding work on tolerance to Rhizoctonia crown and root 

 rot, (3) breeding for increased winter growth habit, 

 (k) breeding for tolerance to alkali and high water table 

 conditions, (5) breeding for lodging resistance. 

 Forage Crops, Ent., PI. Path. 1&\6 Coop. ARS 



Calif. The Assessment and Sature of the Injury Caused by the 

 Spotted Alfalfa Aphid . (1) Learn extent and in what 

 manner the spotted aphid affects the yield and quality of 

 alfalfa. (2) Use this data in assessing damage caused by 

 spotted alfalfa aphid and the necessity for control 

 procedures. 



Ent., Parasitol. 1721 (W-lt-3) 



