Show science battles alfalfa disease specialists endeavoring to conquer bacterial Bac tenal wilt through midwest prepared by the united states department ot aa culture service in the very heart of the alfalfa belt nebraska kansas colorado iowa and illinois the bacterial wilt has been spread spreading ln re reducing ducin yields and cutting short the profitable life of alfalfa stands specialists have learned that the planting of a resistant variety is tile the best counterattack they are testing resistant strains and are breeding lit new varieties to combine good qualities mill resistance to the disease bacterial wilt dwarfs the plant thus reducing yields and causes a yellowing of the leaves infected plants usually lie die after a year or so leaving space for weeds to creep in and injure the quality of the hay in nebraska many growers rowers have been letting alfalfa a grow 91 ow as a semi per manent hay bay crop not included in rotations t tat ions where wilt is severe many fields now cease to be profitable after three to fie years unfortunately some of the hardiest handiest har diest al falfas grimm and cossack are attacked severely by wilt to combat wilt the united states slates department of agriculture sent a representative to the caucasus and tur destan in 1029 1929 in search of resistant varieties under tests the turkestan Turk estan al falfas have ha e varied considerably in wilt resistance and in hardness laboratory and greenhouse work has speeded these tests plants grown under glass are then subjected to winter temperature produced artificially to test their hardiness in tests of wilt resistance alfalfa seedlings grow in a greenhouse through the winter in spring t they he y are inoculated with wilt and transplanted by fall the specialists can give a close estimate of their wilt resistance si scientists are carrying on an intensive breeding pro program grain with a view to developing resistant hybrids that yield heavily and that do not have some of the other undesirable ch characteristics arac teris ties of turkestan Turk estan alfalfa |