Original scientific paper

SEED YIELD AND SEED YIELD COMPONENTS VARIATION OF ALFALFA POPULATIONS

Marijana Tucak ; Agricultural Institute Osijek
Svetislav Popović ; Agricultural Institute Osijek
Tihomir Čupić ; Agricultural Institute Osijek
Sonja Grljušić ; Agricultural Institute Osijek
Vladimir Meglič ; Agricultural Institute of Slovenia

Abstract

stable and high seed production is crucial for effective distribution and expansion of new cultivars to a wide production. This is also true for alfalfa, although alfalfa is primarily considered a voluminous crop. The aim of this study was to determine variation of seed yield and seed yield components of eight alfalfa populations of high agronomic value selected after three years of testing for important agronomic traits, to estimate correlations among investigated traits, and to select populations with higher genetic potential for seed yield. Investigation was carried out at the Agricultural Institute Osijek during 2007. Investigated alfalfa populations significantly varied in plant height, number of branches and inflorescences per stem, number of pods and seeds per inflorescence, number of seeds per pod, seed weight per inflorescence and seed yield per plant. Differences among populations for the traits of stem number per plant and 1000 seed weight were not significant. High variability for the most of investigated traits, with exception of plant height and 1000 seed weight, was recorded. Estimated positive correlations among seed yield and seed yield components indicated possibilities for improving seed yield by using a particular component as a selection criterion in the breeding process. Population PL-6 had the highest number of stems per plant (79.50), inflorescences per stem (19.30), and plant height (106.80 cm). Population PL-3 realised the highest number of pods per inflorescence (11.50), seeds per inflorescence (37.81), seeds per pod (3.14), seed weight per inflorescence (0.079 mg), and seed yield per plant (40.07 g). High mean values of seed yield and seed yield components were also found for PL-6 and PL-7. Populations PL-3, PL-6 and PL-7 may be selected as populations with high genetic potential for seed yield.

Keywords

alfalfa; seed yield; variation; yield components; correlations

Hrčak ID:

27746

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/27746

Publication date:

26.9.2008.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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