The study of similarities among Czech alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) varieties

Abstract

Within the period of 2010–2011, a set of 14 Czech alfalfa cultivars was evaluated in the research locality Troubsko. On small plots and also in the individual plantations altogether 51 descriptors were evaluated. Statistical differences existing among cultivars in individual trait sunder study were analysed using the method of point and interval estimations of average values. Intraspecific variability was studied on the base of estimation of variation coefficients. A high degree of intraspecific uniformity was found in cultivars ‘Jarka’ and ‘Holyna’ while the lowest one was registered in the cultivar ‘Litava’. Green matter yields ranged from 66.3 t.ha−1 (‘Jitka’) to 77.2 t.ha−1 (‘Holyna’), hay yields from 11.71 t.ha−1 (‘Jitka’) to 15.43 t.ha−1 (‘Jarka’), and yields of seed from 0.19 t.ha−1 (‘Jitka’) to 0.35 t.ha−1 (‘Kamila’). As far as the descriptor “Alfalfa tuft dry matter” was concerned, cultivars ‘Oslava’ and ‘Holyna’ were statistically highly significantly (P < 0.01) better than than cultivars ‘Jitka’ and ‘Vlasta’. As far as the descriptor “Width of the terminal leaflet” was concerned, the cultivar ‘Palava’ was statistically highly significantly better (P < 0.01) than cultivars ‘Vlasta’, ‘Litava’, and ‘Denisa’. The existence of similarity of cultivars under study was determined by means of cluster analysis. It was found out that the highest degree of similarity existed between cultivars ‘Morava’ and ‘Niva’.

Keywords

• Cluster analyses
• <i>Medicago sativa</i> L.
• variability
• yields