INTA and Palo Verde launch three new alfalfa cultivars

After more than a decade of collaboration, the National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA) and the seed company Palo Verde have introduced three new alfalfa varieties in Oncativo, Córdoba, Argentina. Developed under a technological partnership agreement launched in 2009, these new cultivars represent the culmination of 13 years of research and development. The releases aim to address specific needs of livestock systems, offering improved hay quality, greater tolerance to salinity, and a reduced risk of bloat.

The three new alfalfa varieties are Amaya PV INTA, Kumen PV INTA, and Maltetén PV INTA. Each was developed with distinct characteristics to cater to different environmental conditions and agricultural practices. Ariel Odorizzi, an alfalfa breeder at INTA Manfredi and coordinator of the agreement, explained that the process focused on combining productivity, persistence, and adaptation to specific environments and uses.

Amaya PV INTA is a highly winter-dormant alfalfa cultivar designed to produce high-quality hay. Its key distinguishing trait is its strong multi-leaf expression, which enhances the leaf-to-stem ratio and increases crude protein content without compromising digestibility. This variety was developed for quality hay proposals, as the selection premise was to increase the raw protein and the leaf/stem ratio, resulting in a material with extremely low winter dormancy.

Kumen PV INTA, on the other hand, is a dormancy group 9 cultivar bred to perform and yield in saline soils. Its development was driven by the need to address productivity challenges in areas with high soil salinity, a common issue in many parts of Argentina. By improving tolerance to saline conditions, Kumen PV INTA can help livestock producers maintain stable yields in environments that are otherwise challenging.

Maltetén PV INTA is a dormancy group 8 cultivar with a lower tendency to cause bloat under direct grazing. Bloat, caused by the accumulation of gas in the rumen, can lead to significant health issues and reduced productivity in ruminant animals. By reducing bloat risk, Maltetén PV INTA offers a valuable option for grazing systems, where livestock are directly fed on alfalfa.

The three new alfalfa varieties were registered with the National Seed Institute (INASE) in 2019 and 2023. INTA serves as the breeder for all three cultivars and submits the official descriptions of their distinctive traits to the agency. After selection and registration, and under the technological linkage agreement, INTA transfers the material to Palo Verde for multiplication and subsequent commercialization. This collaboration ensures that innovations from the breeding program can reach the market and livestock production systems, providing farmers with access to improved forage options.

The introduction of these new alfalfa cultivars strengthens the forage options available to diverse livestock systems and environments across Argentina. By addressing key challenges such as hay quality, salinity tolerance, and bloat risk, the new varieties offer solutions tailored to the specific needs of different agricultural practices and ecosystems. This development not only enhances the resilience of livestock production but also contributes to the overall sustainability of Argentina's agricultural sector.