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Abstract

In order to compare three types of open-pollinated (OP), cloned (C) and selfed (S) cultivars in alfalfa and to find the effects of selfing, and also to evaluate selfed and cloned progenies for production of alfalfa synthetics, two field experiments were conducted. In experiment I, seven open-pollinated
cultivars along with their selfed and cloned progenies were used in a randomized complete block design with three replications. In experiment II, 12 open-pollinated cultivars and their selfed progenies were tested in a randomized complete block design with five replications. Flowering date, plant
height, hay yield and hay protein percentage were studied. Three types of statistical analyses were performed on the data: simple analysis for each trait in each cutting. Compound analysis over cuttings and years for each trait; and orthogonal comparisons between OP, C and S and their combinations. The
results of simple and compound analyses of data in experiments I and II showed that Bami, Kerman, Ahar and Shiraz were the earliest cultivars. Cultivars Bami, Kerman and Ramadan (miscellaneous) were the highest and produced more dry yield than others. Protein percentage was highest in cultivars Bami, Shiraz and Ramadan( miscellaneous). The results of orthognal
comparisons revealed that selfed progenies, in some instances, were later, shorter and with lower yield, compared to open-pollinated and cloned cultivars. However, they did not show much difference in protein percentage over their OP and C counterparts.

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