Biotech Updates

New Alfalfa Varieties for 2013 in Western United States

December 5, 2012

New alfalfa varieties 55Q27 and 55VR05 that have resistance to disease, adaptability to different cutting systems, winter weathering abilities, versatility and high-yield potential will be available to the western states of the US in 2013. The two lines developed by Pioneer have dormancy traits that allow alfalfa plants to grow season-long and improve late harvest potential, as well as resistance to verticillium wilt, bacterial wilt, Fusarium wilt and phytophthora root rot.

Variety 55Q27 is a conventional, broadly adapted variety with specific resistance to the pea aphid and spotted aphid, while 55VR05 is medium multi-foliate variety that contains the Genuity® Roundup Ready® trait for additional weed control flexibility, has high resistance for stem nematode, winter-hardy and well-suited to western irrigated areas.

For details, see the news at http://www.pioneer.com/home/site/about/news-media/news-releases/template.CONTENT/guid.7C236346-6A97-7997-27C8-798FEF4F1F82.