Choice’ forage chicory (Cichorium intybus L.)

Abstract

‘Choice’ forage chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) was bred almost entirely from ‘Grasslands Puna’ chicory, with selection emphasis on winter growth, greater uniformity and lower levels of the sesquiterpene lactones, lactucin and lactucopicrin. It is intended for use on dairy farms, where the low levels of these chemicals would be most unlikely to cause a taint or bitter aftertaste in the milk. ‘Choice’ has levels of c. 70–85% of those in ‘Puna’. Breeding took place between 1992 and 1998, and included three generations of selection for morphological features, then two generations to reduce the combined levels of lactucin and lactucopicrin. The cultivar is more uniform than ‘Puna’ in morphology and leaf shape, and is also more erect and winter-active. © 2003 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.