Assessment of Adaptability and Genetic Variability among Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) Accessions for Green Fodder Yield and Associated Traits

Abstract

Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) is a perennial forage crop valued for its high biomass production, nutritive value and repeated harvesting potential. Identification of local germplasm is essential for lucerne improvement and breeding. This study assessed the potential of 12 lucerne accessions for green fodder yield and associated morphological traits under the agro-ecological conditions of Farooqabad, Punjab, Pakistan during 2025–2026. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications and green fodder yield was recorded from three successive cuts. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among genotypes for plant height, number of tillers, number of leaves, leaf area and green fodder yield whereas culm thickness showed a non-significant genotypic effect. Green fodder yield ranged from 60.37 to 79.63 t ha⁻¹ with G2 (79.63 t ha⁻¹) and G5 (78.89 t ha⁻¹) recording the highest yields while G12 showed the lowest yield (60.37 t ha⁻¹). Correlation analysis indicated a positive association of green fodder yield with number of tillers (r = 0.66) whereas negative associations were observed with plant height (r = −0.27), number of leaves (r = −0.27) and culm thickness (r = −0.51). The first two principal components accounted for 68.46% of the total variation. Green fodder yield and the number of tillers contributed to the differentiation of genotypes in this study. The results demonstrated considerable phenotypic variation among the evaluated accessions and identified G2 and G5 as promising materials for further evaluation. These accessions together with other high-performing genotypes may provide useful material for subsequent multi-environment testing and lucerne improvement programs under Pakistani conditions.