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

KNOTOVA DANIELA, SKLADANKA JIŘI, PELIKAN JAN. 2014. The study of similarities among Czech alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) varieties. Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis, 62(5): 971–977. 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 diff erences existing among cultivars in individual trait sunder study were analysed using the method of point and interval estimations of average values. Intraspecifi c variability was studied on the base of estimation of variation coeffi cients. A high degree of intraspecifi c 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 tu dry matter” was concerned, cultivars ‘Oslava’ and ‘Holyna’ were statistically highly signifi cantly (P < 0.01) better than than cultivars ‘Jitka’ and ‘Vlasta’. As far as the descriptor “Width of the terminal leafl et” was concerned, the cultivar ‘Palava’ was statistically highly signifi cantly 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’.