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Australia's Benchmark Lucerne

SILVERADO is a new type of lucerne. It combines in the one variety the highest quality and performance features sought by Australian lucerne growers.

SILVERADO, is adapted to all Australian lucerne growing areas from the subtropics to winter cold and dryland conditions. Premium quality combined with production and persistence were achieved by intensive field selection in trials conducted in commercial lucerne for every benchmark detailed below.

Performance Benchmark Rating of Silverado Hay and Forage Quality High Leaf and stem disease resistance High Mature stand leaf/stem ratio High Forage and hay palatability High Yield Potential High Summer production High Winter activity and production High (Group 9) Frost and cold tolerance High High Stem height at maturity Tall Regrowth after grazing (all seasons) Rapid Density of fine stems High Stand Life (Persistence) High Persistence in irrigation and high rainfall High Persistance in moderately acid soils High Persistence in dryland production High Tolerance to salinity Moderate Tolerance to intense grazing High Tolerance to frequent cutting (28 days) High Crown and root disease resistance High Persistence under nematode infestation High

Premium quality and yield Above; Variety trial, Queensland centre Silverado, left Trifecta and right L55 Longterm dryland production Above; Silverado, mid-north SA

The new benchmark lucerne with built-in broad-spectrum disease and pest resistance to support quality and performance

Disease or Pest Rating of Silverado Leaf and Stem Diseases Stemphylium Leaf Spot Resistant Pepperspot (Leptosphaerulina) Resistant Rust Highly Resistant Downy Mildew Highly Resistant Phoma (Spring Blackstem) Resistant Common Leafspot Resistant Root and Crown Diseases Phytophthora Root Rot Highly Resistant Anthracnose Highly Resistant Stagonospora Crown Rot Highly Resistant Fusarium Crown Rot Highly Resistant Rhizoctonia Crown Rot Moderately Resistant Nematodes Root-knot Nematodes Highly Resistant Root Lesion Nematodes Resistant Stem Nematode Moderately Resistant Aphids Spotted/Alfalfa Aphid Highly Resistant Blue-green Aphid Highly Resistant Pea Aphid Highly Resistant

SILVERADO produces premium highly acceptable hay particularly for the horse stud industry.

High horse and stock preference for Silverado

SILVERADO has 'sweet' attractive hay and forage similar to the Hunter River family of varieties (Hunter River, Hunterfield, Trifecta). Many lucerne varieties are 'bitter' resulting in non-preferred forage and hay, lower intake and poorer performance.

Moderate salinity and sodicity tolerance

SILVERADO established on moderately saline soil at Kingaroy, Qld.

Note: Rhodes Grass has not established in the more saline foreground (SP Na 14.67 meg/100g Sat. Cond. 3.16 dS/m)

Persistent in moderately acid soils

SILVERADO has gained acceptance for establishing and persisting on moderately acid soils, particularly where Hunterfield has been the previous benchmark variety.

Photo: Dryland SILVERADO on acidic redbrown soil, mid-north S.A.