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ARS Home » Midwest Area » St. Paul, Minnesota » Plant Science Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #362058
Research Project: Enhanced Alfalfa Germplasm and Genomic Resources for Yield, Quality, and Environmental Protection

Location: Plant Science Research

Title: More to alfalfa frost damage than meets the eye

Author
item Samac, Deborah - Debby

Submitted to: Hay and Forage Grower
Publication Type: Trade Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/15/2019
Publication Date: 5/1/2019
Citation: Samac, D.A. 2019. More to alfalfa frost damage than meets the eye. Hay and Forage Grower. 4/5:30-31.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Most alfalfa producers count on the first harvest in late spring to deliver the highest tonnage and best quality of forage of the year. Late frosts can significantly reduce both yield and quality. Yield losses are due to the physical damage from freezing of the alfalfa stem and leaves and can also be caused by damage from the fascinating bacterial plant pathogen Pseudomonas syringae. This article describes the disease symptoms of bacterial stem blight and the association of the bacterium with frost damage to plants.