Agroscope Reckenholz-Tänikon Research Station ART, Reckenholzstrasse 191, CH-8046 Zürich

White clover and smooth-stalked meadow-grass retested

From 2010 to 2012, the Agroscope Reckenholz- Tänikon ART and Agroscope Changins-Wädenswil ACW research stations conducted experiments with 20 varieties of white clover and 12 of smooth-stalked meadow-grass. Ten of the white clover and eight of the meadow-grass varieties were new cultivars. Juvenile development, vigour (general impression, stand density, regenerative capacity), winter-hardiness, resistance to leaf diseases, persistence (quality at the end of the final test year) and suitability for cultivation at higher altitudes were assessed. In addition, the content of cyanogenic glycosides of the white clover and the content of digestible organic matter of the meadow-grass were assessed. Four new white-clover cultivars, viz., «CW 0905», «CW 0904», «TR 0505» and «TR 0705», and three meadow-grass cultivars – «PP 0515», «PP 0425» and «Varenzo 5» – performed sufficiently well to earn recommendation. Unfortunately all these varieties have yet to pass the DUS test which will allow their recommendation. Based on the results, recommendations have been withdrawn for the previously recommended white clover varieties «Vysocan» and «Seminole», as well as for the meadow-grass variety «Tommy».

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