. 1991. Hard-seed content of alfalfa grown in Canada. Can. J.Plant Sci. 7l: [437][438][439][440][441][442][443][444]. The hard-seed content of alfalfa (Medicago spp.) grown in Canada in relation to genotype and geographic location of production was surveyed for the commercial growing regions in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. The average hard-seed content of all pedigreed production over a 5-yr period, ranged from 22 to 3'l % andthat in nonpedigreed production was between 74 and3O%. A database ofthe five widely grown cultivars revealed that the hard-seed content of alfalfa in the most northerly growing areas in the Peace River region of Alberta and British Columbia ranged from 3 1 to 5l% , while hard seed content of alfalfa produced elsewhere varied from 22 to 38% . There was no apparent effect of latitude on the proportion of hard seeds, while there was a small increase for two of the five cultivars in production areas further west. Of particular interest was the trend in viable seed production. There was consistent evidence suggesting that the proportion ofviable seeds decreased in production areas further north, but increased in production areas further west. However, the minimum viability was always in excess of 85%. There was no correlation between hard and viable seed. (Fig. 1). (3) Analyses as in (2)

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Ces observations peuvent aider ir rechercher les dispositions des champs favorisant le plus possible l'intervention des pollinisateurs dans les luzernibres porte-graines.

. 2000. Cross-Canada comparison of the productivity of fodder galega (Galega orientalis Lam.) with traditional herbage legumes. Can. J. Plant Sci. 80: 793-800. A study was conducted across Canada to compare the herbage productivity of fodder galega (Galega orientalis Lam.) to that of traditional forage legumes, in order to assess its agricultural potential. Trials were established at latitudes ranging from 45 to 56°N with longitudes from 52°W (St. John's, Newfoundland) to 120°W (Dawson Creek, British Columbia). Herbage productivity was monitored for a maximum of 3 production years. The establishment characteristics of Gale fodder galega were comparable to those of Apica and Beaver alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and Altaswede red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), and somewhat superior to those of Dawn Alsike clover (T. hybridum L.) and Leo trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.). Anik alfalfa (M. falcata L.) was far less uniform and vigorous in its establishment than any of the other species. The average annual dry matter yield of fodder galega ranked third among the seven legumes when averaged over the nine sites; it produced 5545 (SE 95) kg ha -1 compared to 3931 (SE 72) kg ha -1 for Dawn alsike clover, the lowest-yielding crop, and 6673 (SE 114) kg ha -1 for Apica alfalfa, the highest-yielding. The cumulative dry matter yields indicated that Gale galega is at least as well adapted across Canada as the other legumes, except possibly at Saskatoon where the M. sativa alfalfas were far superior to all the other legumes in their ability to establish and thrive. The performance characteristics of Gale fodder galega indicate that it has considerable agricultural potential as an additional, perennial, herbage legume for many regions of Canada, except in the semi-arid continental climate of the central Prairies where its growth may be limited by high air temperature and/or insufficient soil moisture. Pour les neuf emplacements confondus, le rendement annuel moyen en matière sèche du galéga se classait au troisième rang parmi les sept légumineuses étudiées: il était de 5 545 (ET 95) kg ha -1 contre 3 931 (ET 72) kg ha -1 pour le trèfle hybride Dawn, l'espèce la moins productive, et 6 673 (ET 114) kg ha -1 pour la luzerne Apica, l'espèce la plus productive. D'après les rendements en matière sèche cumulatifs, le galéga fourrager Gale peut se cultiver aussi bien que les autres légumineuses partout au Canada, excepté peut-être en Saskatchewan où le luzerne M. sativa l'emportait de loin sur toutes les autres légumineuses par ses qualités d'installation, de croissance et de longévité. Grâce à ses belles performances, la nouvelle culture offre de grandes possibilités agronomiques comme légu-mineuse fourragère vivace d'appoint dans beaucoup de régions du Canada, sauf dans les conditions climatiques continentales semi-arides des Prairies centrales où sa croissance risque d'être restreinte par les hautes températures de l'air ou par le manque d'humidité du sol (ou par les deux en combinaison).