ABSTRACT
Palihue-INIA,new alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) cultivar for the north-centraI zone of Chile, resistant to stem nematode (Ditylenchus dipsaci)

Horacio López T.1, Abdón Guiñez S.1, Luis Soto K.2, Ignacio Tamés E.3 y Bernardo Arriagada C.1
 

Palihue-INIA is a new alfalfa cultivar, originated by INIA es Irrigated Pastures Program, from Spanish germplasm, at La Platina Exp. Sta. (INIA, Santiago, Chile). It is a non dormant variety, very winter active, well adapted to the north area of the irrigated central valley. It achieves a height of 70-80cm at 10% bloom and the flowering colour is predominantly violete (80%) and 30% of its flowers are variegated. lts yields are high, in the long term, reaching as average 16.5 ton D.M./ha, in six years. These yields are achieved due to its good regrowth capacity and its high resistance to stem nematode (Ditylenchus dipsaci), which was 64% superior to other 26 varieties (P < 0.01). It has a high protein content and good levels of D.M. and O.M. digestibility. Though its seedlings are not as aggressive as other winter active varieties, it is highly recommended for long time rotations, because of its very good persistence.

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1 Estación Experimental La Platina (INIA), Casilla 439, Correo 3, Santiago, Chile.
2 Apartado Aéreo 2926, Cartagena, Colombia.
3 Carlos Vaz Ferreiro 2535, Depto. 102, Santiago, Chile.