Determination of dry matter yield, some morphological characteristics, and rootworm infestation in local sainfoin populations.

Sainfoin (Onobrychis sativa L.) is a valuable forage plant that is drought-resistant and has good nutritional value. However, for many years, various rootworms that damaged sainfoin have caused a decrease in its cultivation areas, and a variety resistant to rootworms has yet to be developed in scientific research. Local populations are of great importance to studies aiming to one day develop resistant varieties. This research aimed to determine the hay yield, forage quality, morphological characteristics, and rootworm infestation of local sainfoin genotypes from six villages in the Erzurum Province of Türkiye. The research took place in 2017, and forage yield, forage quality, some plant characteristics, and the rootworm infestation of local sainfoin genotypes were examined between 2018 and 2021. According to the data obtained from the study, yield, forage quality, morphological characteristics, and the rootworm infestation of local sainfoin genotypes showed significant changes according to year and genotype. Sainfoin is a high-yielding crop in the first three years after sowing; the dry hay yield decreases after this period. This study revealed that local sainfoin genotypes have a strong potential for developing new varieties. For this reason, breeding should be initiated using populations from Aribahçe and Göztepe, which have high yields, and Güneyköy, where rootworm infestation is not found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]