‘Puna II’ forage chicory (Cichorium intybus L.)

Abstract

‘Puna II’ forage chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) was bred from ‘Grasslands Puna’ chicory by selection for tolerance to the fungus Sclerotinia, cool‐season activity, greater uniformity, and higher levels of the sesquiterpene lactones, lactucin and lactucopicrin. It is intended for use as a pure sward on non‐milking farms, and as a component of mixed swards on all grazing farms. Breeding took place from 1992 to 1997, and involved two interdependent screening paths, for (1) tolerance to Sclerotinia and (2) vigour and uniformity, then high levels of lactucin and lactucopicrin. In most years, the seed harvested from each path was incorporated also into the alternate path for the following year. The two paths were combined in 1997 to provide a final single breeding population. ‘Puna II’ is more uniform than ‘Grasslands Puna’ in morphology and leaf shape. It is also more erect and much more winter‐active, and at least as persistent. It is much more persistent than a cultivar bred simultaneously for dairy farms ('Choice') but slightly less winter‐active, and has higher combined levels of lactucin and lactucopicrin. About 3% of ‘Puna II’ plants bear only pink flowers, rather than blue.