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Relationship Between Physiological And Morphological Characteristics And Yield Of Nondormant Alfalfa Clones, A. L. Foutz, Wallace Wilhelm, A. K. Dobrenz

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) breeders are constantly striving to improve the productivity of alfalfa. Yields have been increased primarily through the selection of plant materials resistant to insects and diseases. The objective of this study was to evaluate physiological characteristics which might be used as selection criteria in alfalfa improvement. Alfalfa clones were grown under field conditions on a Mojave clay loam soil. Carbon dioxide flux was evaluated in a closed system using an infrared gas analyzer. The physiological variables measured in these studies did not account for the varialion in yield among the clones. Apparent photosynthetic rates, dark …