Descriptors
Category: CYTOLOGIC

1. Chromosome Number (Chromosome Number) Number of chromosomes

Category: GROWTH

1. Autumn Forage Yield (Autumn Forage Yield ) Visual estimation of autumn forage yield, relative to Winter Activity Class 7 variety (100)
2. Autumn Plant Height (Autumn Plant Height) Plant natural height 6 weeks after equinox ( cut 2 weeks after equinox, in cm.)
3. Autumn Stem Length (Autumn Stem Length) Plant natural stem length 6 weeks after equinox (cut 2 weeks after equinox, in cm)
4. Growth Habit (Growth Habit) Visual assessment taken at same time as autumn plant height and summer stem length
5. Habit Angle (Habit Angle) Measured autumn stem length (A) and stem height (B) from the ground. a= SIN (B/A)
6. Harvest Seed Weight (Harvest Seed Weight) Total weight of the seeds harvested in grams
7. Internode length (Internode length) Internode length assessed between the 4th and 5th internode from base
8. Leaf Size (Leaf Size) Subjective assessment of Leaf Area (small, medium, large)
9. Primary Branching (Primary Branching) Subjective Assessment of the amount of branching
10. Regrowth (Regrowth) Recovery rate. The stem length from a representative plant measuredwith a ruler in cm, two weeks after the spring cutting
11. Spring Forage Yield (Spring Forage Yield) November; visual score (/100) relative to standard check (SARDI 7 Series 2) six weeks after first cut. (SARDI 7 Series 2 = 70)
12. Summer Forage Yield (Summer Forage Yield) January; visual score (/100) relative to standard check (SARDI 7 Series 2)

Category: MORPHOLOGY

1. 1000 Seed Weight (1000 Seed Weight) Weight of 1000 seeds in grams
2. Creeping Rooted (Creeping Rooted) Creeping Root Habit. The presence or absence of plants on developing stem buds on lateral roots.
3. Crown bud number (Crown bud number) The number of buds emanating from the crown is counted 2 weeks after the October 4th cut in Year 2
4. Crown Position (Crown Position) The position of the crown in relation to the surface, where 1 Below, 2 Above, 3 Surface
5. Crown Size (Crown Size) The width of the crown (cm) on 5 representative plants measured using electronic callipers
6. Dehiscence (Dehiscence) Pod dehiscence at maturity
7. Establishment (Establishment) Number of plants established, 6-8 weeks after planting (counted if <100)
8. Floret Colour (Floret Colour) Visual classification of flower colour as per Alfalfa colour book 424
9. Leaf Area (Leaf Area) Leaf area (cm2) calculated by multiplying leaf length and width
10. Leaf Hairs (Leaf Hairs) Leaf surface hairiness (at 5th-8th leaf stage)
11. Leaf Length (Leaf Length) Leaf length (cm) measured using electronic callipers. Measurement will be taken on the forth leaflet from the top on 3 random branches from a representative plant. The central leaf will be measured.
12. Leaf to stem ratio (Leaf to stem ratio) Ratio of leaf relative to stem of 10 representative stems, which are hand cut, seperated and oven dried
13. Lifeform (Lifeform) The life form of the accession
14. Lifespan (Lifespan) The lifespan of the accession
15. Mortality (Mortality) Number of plant serviving. Scored in November of year 2 after the last cut
16. Number of Nodes (Number of Nodes) Number of nodes on a representative 3 stems
17. Pod Coiling (Pod Coiling) The number of coils in a pod counted
18. Seed yield per plant (Seed yield per plant) Seed yield per plant (g, approximate using mortality count). This is a guide, as 100% of seed is not always harvested and cleaned
19. Seeds per Pod (Seeds per Pod) The mean number of seeds produced from 100 pods
20. Shattering (Shattering) Recovery rate. The stem length from a representative plant measuredwith a ruler in cm, two weeks after the spring cutting
21. Threshability (Threshability) The ease of which seed is able to be threshed from pod by machine
22. Visual Pod Production (Visual Pod Production) Subjective assessment of pod production taken at harvest
23. Winter Activity (Winter Activity) Calculated using correlation between existing winter activity controls and stem height measured 6 weeks after equinox ( cut 2 weeks after equinox)