Larus, a new, tetraploid red clover cultivar of the persistent «Mattenklee» type

“The cultivar LARUS is listed in Switzerland since 1998, in Germany since 2000 and in France since 2001. It has been developped from breeding material similar to the one from which TEMARA had been selected, obtained by treating Swiss “”Mattenklee”” (a local, persistent form of cultivated red clover) with colchicine. LARUS provides high, stable yields over three years of cultivation (seeding year, 1st and 2nd harvest year). As compared to TEMARA, LARUS is distinguished by an even markedly better persistence. LARUS is little affected by Sclerotinia crown rot and southern anthracnose (Colletotrichum trifolii). This resistance enables the clover to maintain the desired proportion in grass-clover leys for the entire duration of their existence. Moreover, LARUS is quite resistant against mildew (Erysiphe polygoni), a fungal pathogen which can diminish the quality of diseased forage.”