New variety of meadow clover Assol

Abstract

Single-cut late maturing varieties cultivated in clover-sowing areas of the Western and Eastern Siberian regions do not fully meet the needs of production. They ripen mostly in late September during heavy rainfall, which makes seed harvesting difficult and leads to high yield losses. Low yields lead to a constant shortage of seeds. Creation of early maturing varieties along with late maturing varieties is relevant for the Siberian region and the Russian Federation as a whole. The research on creation of early maturing meadow clover Assol variety on tetraploid basis with dry matter yield of 60–70 c/ha, seed yield of 1.5–2.0 c/ha, winter-hardy, more resistant to major diseases is presented. A hybrid population of 16-9-T (4×) was established under artificial climate conditions by hybridization, polyploidy and selection methods. Further studies were continued in 2006-2021 in the conditions of the forest-steppe of Western Siberia. Selections of winter-hardy high-yielding forms from the complex-hybrid population 16-9-T (4×) were made. The established population was tested in three cycles of competitive variety trials (sowing of 2013, 2015, 2017). Early maturing Assol variety on tetraploid basis showed high yield – 97.0%. The duration of the vegetation period is 114 days. Average yield of green mass for two harvests was 451 c/ha, dry matter – 89.2, seeds –1.67 c/ha. The variety is characterized by resistance to powdery mildew and fusarium, responsive to moisture both in the first and second half of summer, forming a high yield of the first and second cut. Since 2024 the Assol variety has been included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements approved for use in the West Siberian region of the Russian Federation.