Breeding Nikshari alfalfa landraces using mass selection through Fasoulas method

In order to increase the yield of Nikshahri alfalfa landraces and maintain genetic diversity، the success of mass selection and reduction of environmental impacts، honeycomb mass selection method was used. This method was performed to get improvement on landrace of that. To achieve to this common goal، seed samples were collected from area of planting Nikshahri alfalfa and national plant gene bank، a sample were planted according Fasoulas pattern on farm. The distance from a plant to other plant was 0. 5 meter and 1300 plants were planted. In the first year، the plants were allowed to establish and in the second year، separately all single-plant was evaluated for the high of stems، number of stems per plant، their injury by diseases and insects and every plant was weighted for its hay production. Before of flowering time، none choosing plants was removed and selected plants were pollinated together with a mixture of pollen collected from all the plants of this group In the third year، the new mass was planted for yield comparison with previous mass. According to the results، a new mass was found superior in comparison with first mass and the new production had significant difference with old population. Also mass selection was decreased non-uniform mass in comparison with the first mass.