Registration of ‘Ezra’ Alfalfa

Abstract

‘Ezra’ (Reg. No. CV‐207, PI 664904) alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) was developed by Cornell University for higher forage yield and multiple disease resistance. After evaluating it as experimental designation NY 0240, Ezra was released by the Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station. This cultivar is the result of a cross between two populations. The first population was derived by completing one cycle of selection for resistance to Phytophthora root rot (caused by Phytophthora megasperma Drechs. f. sp. medicaginis Kuan & Erwin) in ‘Seedway 9558’. The second population traces back to a cross between ‘Magnum III’, which had been selected for resistance to anthracnose (Race 1) (caused by Colletotrichum trifolii Bain & Essary) and to Verticillium wilt (caused by Verticillium albo‐atrum Reinke & Berth.), and plants from multiple Cornell breeding populations related to ‘Oneida VR’, the resulting population which had been further selected for resistance to Verticillium wilt, anthracnose (Race 1), and Phytophthora root rot. Full‐sib crosses between the first and second populations were made by hand (125 plants per population) by crossing an individual plant from one population with one plant from the other population. Equal amounts of seed from each full‐sib cross were bulked to form Syn. 1 seed. Ezra is adapted to the North Central and Northeast regions of the United States and has fall dormancy similar to the FD3 check. Flower color is 78% purple and 22% variegated, with traces of yellow, cream, and white. Pod shape is 76% tightly coiled, 21% loosely coiled, and 3% crescent. Ezra has high resistance to anthracnose (Race 1) and Fusarium wilt [caused by Fusarium oxysporum Schlecht. f. sp. medicaginis (Weimer) Snyd. & Hans.] and resistance to Verticillium wilt, bacterial wilt, and Phytophthora root rot. It is susceptible to Aphanomyces root rot (Race 1) (caused by Aphanomyces euteiches Drechs.).