MORPHOLOGICAL AND AGRONOMIC AFFINITIES AMONG MIDDLE-EASTERN ALFALFAS - ACCESSIONS FROM OMAN AND YEMEN

Alfalfa (Medicago saliva L.) is a common element of oasis agriculture In the Middle East; however, germplasm from this region has not been w idely used in alfalfa breeding elsewhere. Previous research in Arizona showed that ecotypes from tbe southern portion of the Arabian Peninsu la possess traits that may be useful in breeding very nondormant culti vars. The objectives of this research were to describe morphological a nd agronomic variation among 41 accessions from Omen, Yemen and southw estern Saudi Arabia, and eight accessions representing basic germplasm groups from elsewhere in the Arabian Peninsula and North Africa. Resu lts of this research will be useful in preservation and utilization of these germplasm resources. Data collected from a 2-yr held Mel at Toc son, AZ, were evaluated by average linkage cluster and principal compo nents analyses. Southern Arabian accessions collected below elevations of 1000 m were distinct from those collected at higher elevations. Th e most distinctive accessions were from low-elevation eases in Yemen a nd were extremely susceptible to frost damage. Accessions from the Sal alah Coastal Plain in Omen were especially variable, perhaps reflectin g recent importation. Based largely on poor response to low winter tem peratures, accessions from low elevations in Yemen were shown to be se parable from those from Omen. Germplasm from the Batinah Coastal Plain and the Hajar Foothills in Oman could not generally be separated. The Saudi Arabian ecotype Hasawi was similar to germplasm from northern O men. Utilization of alfalfa germplasm from subtropical environments in southern Arabia may be complicated outside this region by its adaptat ion to intensive management under frost-free conditions.