Assessment of diverse cicer milkvetch (<i>Astragalus cicer</i> L.) germplasm for agro-morphological traits under a stockpiling system

Cicer milkvetch ( Astragalus cicer L.) is a non-bloating perennial forage legume suitable for stockpiled grazing in the fall because of its rapid regrowth and high nutritive value. Genetically diverse germplasm are needed development improved cultivars that can provide consistent production across variable climatic conditions. The objective this research was to assess diversity relationship 27 populations inform selection future have superior agro-morphological traits during summer growth. A completely randomized field trial established 2019 near Clavet, Saskatchewan. In 2020 2021, dry matter yield (DMY), maximum stem length, leaf number per stem, rhizome spread, density were recorded on late June at first harvest mid-October stockpile harvest. All five different p &lt; 0.05) among both harvests except June. Principal component analysis identified three principal components described 89% variation harvests. Of traits, length had greatest correlation with DMY r = 0.69) 0.6). Our demonstrates there morphological populations, plant introductions, PI 362266, 576963, 440143, 362254 could be used as novel genetic resources climate-resilient cultivars.