Tolo, the first common vetch forage cultivar suitable for cultivation in tropical and subtropical rainfed regions of the country

Tolo common vetch forage cultivar with original name of VS-Jordan 2628 was initially entered to the country through ICARDA vetch nurseries in 1997-98 and it was evaluated in the adaptability test of the international germplasm at Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad (Gachsaran) and Lorestan (Kuhdasht) provinces. In Gachsaran, Tolo was selected based on its grain yield of 1077 kgha-1 and higher grain yield compared to the local check and in Kuhdasht area it was selected based on its dry forage and grain yield of 1032 and 465 kgha-1, respectively. In the preliminary yield trial in 1998-99, Tolo had dry forage and grain yields of 4438 and 1719 kgha-1, respectively. Also, in the advanced yield trial in 1999-2000 it had dry forage and grain yields of 2430 and 1080 kgha-1, respectively, and exhibited significant superiority to the local check. In the elite yield trial which was conducted in 2000-01 in Kuhdasht and Gachsaran regions, Tolo with average dry forage and grain yield of 2840 and 1216 kgha-1, respectively, as well as mean of rank, standard deviation of rank and coefficient of variation of 4.5, 3.51 and 17.1% for dry forage and those of 1.5, 0.58 and 52.9% for grain yields, respectively, had superior performance compared to the other genotypes and check cultivar. Tolo cultivar, in on-farm experiments conducted in different regions of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province during 2001-02, 2004-05 and 2013-14 cropping years, showed higher yield performance compared to the local check cultivar and other studied genotypes. Also, its forage quality was significantly superior to alfalfa and vetch cultivar Lamei. Other important characteristics of Tolo cultivar were high initial growth rate, rapid canopy cover, high grain filling rate and high 100-seed weight compared to local check.