The experiment was carried out at Carillanca Experimental Station (INIA), Temuco, Chile and it corresponds to the lirst step of a red clover (Trifolium prafense L.) breeding project. The aim of the project js to release cultivars with bettar persistency than the natianal cultivar Quiñequeli. A policross and progeny test are performed. In the presant paper information from two seasons of evaluation (1989/90 and 1990/91) of the policrossing is given, emphasizing in the sanitary performance. The leal disease of higher severity was powdery mildew (Erysiphe trifolii Grev.). Powdery mildew average severity was 33 and 18% for the first and second seasons, respectively, and there were positive correlations (r = 0,72; P < 0,01) between its severity in the two seasons. However. lar the recorded severities, it didn't have signilicant correlations (P > 0,05) with mortality, seed yield or larage yield. Average mortallty atthe end of the lirst and second seasons was 27 and 40%, respectively. It was positively correlated (P < 0,01) with virus severity and was closely related to root damage by the clover barer, Hylastinus obscurus (M.) (Coleoptera: Scolytidae), assoclated to other insects and crown rol. Sevan of the 55 evaluated plants had final mortality lower than 10 % and low severity of PM and viruses. There was a positive correlation (r = 0,45; P < 0,01) between the beginning time 01 Ilowering and the number of internodes of the main stem. This suggests the possibility of estimating the Ilowering precocity by evaluating the number of internodes. |