TOLERANCE OF ALFALFA TO MANGANESE TOXICITY IN SAND CULTURE

Abstract
Two groups of alfalfa varieties and crosses were grown in nutrient solutions containing two levels of manganese: 0.5 and 25 parts per million. Significant differences between varieties in their ability to tolerate manganese toxicity were observed. Promising individuals from the variety trial were selected for strain building. Some resulting crosses were found to be highly tolerant to the toxic level of manganese. This character appears to be inherited.