Resistance of alfalfa cultivars to brown root rot

Abstract

Alfalfa cultivars were evaluated for resistance to the low-temperature disease, brown root rot, caused by Phoma sclerotioides, and for forage yield in field trials with naturally occurring disease. The cultivar Peace was the most resistant, followed by Algonquin, Beaver, Apica, Anchor and Pacer. Yields were closely related to root rot resistance. Key words: Brown root rot, alfalfa, Phoma sclerotioides, Plenodomus meliloti, resistance, losses