Genealogy of Alfalfa :: Plants Environment Planting History Essays

Genealogy of Alfalfa In this composition on the genealogy of alfalfa I will begin by telling you about the background and storey of alfalfa in the linked States. Secondly, I will tell you about the different sources of alfalfa germplasm. Next, I will talk about different studies and experiments that have been done to convert the breeds of alfalfa. Finally, I will tell you about the genetic makeup of alfalfa and what distinguishes it from other popular plants. Alfalfa otherwise known today as the Queen of Forage is thought to have originated in Iran over 2,400 eld ago. It was the only forage crop that was cultivated before recorded history and so the history of its origin isnt one-hundred percent accurate. The first endeavour to grow alfalfa in the United States was recorded in gallium in the year 1736. The introduction of alfalfa to California came first by Spanish settlers and later by Europeans. The Europeans were headed to California during the gold rush. They obta ined alfalfa set out when sailing around South America. Alfalfa flourished in the western states because of its favourable climate. Because alfalfa has a good yield, is palatable, and has a high value of nutrition. intelligence activity spread and so did the planting. Alfalfa then spread eastward to the midwestern states. The distribution of alfalfa to states east of the Mississippi river was a failure receivable to its acid soils, plant disorder, and humidity. Most of the genetic diversities of alfalfa come from cardinal germplasm sources. These nine germplasm sources are M. falcate, M. varia, Turkistan, Flemish, Chilean, Peruvian, Indian, and African. According to Barnes, Bingham, Murphy, Hunt, Beard, Skrdla, and Teubar M. falcata has orange-yellow flowers and an early fall dormancy therefore it is known to have a heavy first cutting and a light second cutting. It also has some bacterial wilt and foliar disease resistances. Strains were usually classified as M. varia because they had variegated flower colors and inconsistent pod shapes. M. varia sources were introduced to South Dakota in 1907 as seed from a integrity hybrid plant found in Russia. These sources are winter brazen, much vigorous than M. falcata and are susceptible to bacterial wilt. Turkistan alfalfas have been described as poor seed producers, susceptible to leaf diseases, and resistant to many insects and upper side and root disease. They vary in winter hardiness from moderately hardy to hardy.