Cross-Breeding Improvement and Performance Analysis of Dominant Production Traits in Grazing-Type Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)

Rhizome-rooted Medicago sativa L. “Qingshui” is an excellent germplasm for establishing grazing and ecological grasslands but inferior in yield, in which both high production and ecological values can be achieved by cross-breeding. We have obtained valuable rhizome-rooted hybrid strains (RSA-01, RSA-02, and RSA-03) by crossing of Qingshui and the high-yielding Medicago sativa L. “WL168.” In this study, the Qingshui plants with low production performance were crossed for improvement, and progenies with better production and higher quality than those of Qingshui were selected. The results reveal that the branch number, crude protein (CP) content, and relative feed value (RFV) of RSA-01; the stem thickness, CP content, and ether extract (EE) content of RSA-02; and the plant height, stem thickness, branch number, and dry hay yield of RSA-03 were higher than those of Qingshui. Except for the leaf/stem ratio and plant height of RSA-01, leaf/stem ratio of RSA-02, and plant height of RSA-03, the coefficient of variation (CV) of yield traits of the hybrid strains was lower than those of Qingshui, ranging from 0.1% to 4.28%. In addition to the lignin and acid detergent fiber content of RSA-01 as well as EE content of RSA-02 and RSA-03, the CV of the nutritional traits of the hybrid strains was low, ranging from 0.60% to 3.43%. The tested samples were ranked as follows based on yield performance and nutritional values: WL168 > RSA − 03 > RSA − 01 > RSA − 02 > Qingshui and RSA − 01 > WL168 > RSA − 03 > Qingshui > RSA − 02, respectively. Compared with parental Qingshui, RSA-01, RSA-02, and RSA-03 show better yield performance; meanwhile, RSA-01 and RSA-03 had higher nutritional traits. RSA-01 shows heterosis in branch number, CP content, and RFV; RSA-02 shows heterosis in stem thickness and RSA-03 in plant height, stem thickness, branch number, fresh yield, dry hay yield, and CP content. Notably, the low production performance of Qingshui was improved after crossing it with WL168, substantially resulting in an abundant rhizome-rooted germplasm resource for the establishment of grazing grasslands.