BIBINUR

BIBINUR is a variable lucerne (Medicago sativa L. nothosubsp. varia) variety belonging to the blue-hybrid type. It was bred in 1995 by individual-family selection from a hybrid population of lucerne obtained through free cross-pollination of samples from the All-Russian Institute of Plant Sciences. The plant is of medium height with a semi-upright bush reaching 60–80 cm, branched stems, and oblong-ovate, sparsely hairy leaves. The flowers have various shades of purple, and the inflorescences are medium-loose racemes. Seeds are light brown, kidney-shaped, with a mass of 1000 seeds ranging from 2.0 to 2.5 g. The variety is characterized by medium maturity, winter hardiness, and drought resistance. It is resistant to powdery mildew and fusarium root rot, ensuring good preservation and productivity under various climatic conditions. The vegetative period from regrowth to the first cut is 56–66 days, and flowering begins from early to medium stages. Green mass yield over two cuts reaches 338 c/ha, while crude protein content in dry matter is about 20.5%. The average dry matter yield in the Volga-Vyatka region is 52.4 c/ha, which is 5.7 c/ha higher than the average standard. BIBINUR has good regrowth after cutting, contributing to high productivity in multiple cuts. The variety is recommended for growing for seeds and feed in various agricultural zones, including the Urals steppes, pre-Urals steppes, and southern forest-steppe zones. Despite high yield and disease resistance, the variety is less winter-hardy compared to yellow-hybrid lucerne varieties, which should be considered when choosing for regions with harsh winters.