PHENOTYPIC VARIABILITY OF ALFALFA BREEDING POPULATION

The objectives of this research were to assess the variability of 10 phenotypic traits within and among of 21 alfalfabreeding populations, and to select the most promising populations regarding high values of important agronomictraits in order to develop new synthetic cultivars. The investigation was conducted at the experimental fieldof the Agricultural Institute Osijek. Field trial was arranged according to the randomized block design in threereplications in two consecutive years (2008-2009). Studied alfalfa breeding populations were significantlydifferent in yields of green mass and dry matter, number of stems, height and regeneration of plants, numberand length of internodes, stem thickness and width of central leaflet. Significant variability was determinedwithin and among populations for all observed traits, except for length of central leaflet. High yields andmajor yield components (number of stems, height and plant regeneration), as well as favorable values forother studied traits were found for breeding populations OPL-10, 12, 14, 15, 17, 20 and 21. Determinedsuperior plants within the best populations are potential parental components for a new synthetic cultivarsdevelopment.