Abstract
Forage varieties of Lolium perenne L. (perennial ryegrass) available on the seed market generally show low persistence in rainfed Mediterranean conditions. Eleven native populations of perennial ryegrass from Corsica and Sardinia, previously chosen for their ability to re-grow after summer drought, were grown in a 3-year field experiment in Sardinia (Italy). The objective was to characterize these populations for traits linked with persistence in rainfed conditions under low input management. Their differentiation and stability over time were assessed for some morphological traits (tiller, spike and flag leaf length, number of spikelets spike-1, spikelet and glume length). In addition, some agronomic traits (canopy height, dry matter and seed yield, spike emergence date) and physiological traits (canopy temperature and leaf area index) were observed to identify, using a multivariate approach, correlations with persistence. A significant variability between accessions was observed for all the morphological traits over the three years of observation; a significant Accession × Year interaction was found for tiller length, flag leaf length and number of spikelet/spike with a plastic adaptation to weather conditions of some populations, these traits being the most important contributors to persistence. The most persistent perennial ryegrass accession proved to be the most vigorous and early flowering one. Some contrasting accessions represent valuable resources to be exploited into breeding programs based on Mediterranean germplasm, in order to provide farmers with perennial ryegrass varieties adapted for different purposes and which are able to survive to more frequent hot and dry summer conditions in a context of climate change.
Highlights
Lolium perenne L. is the most important forage grass species in temperate regions of Europe, Australia and New Zealand
We investigated the stability of accessions over the experimental years by implementing a mixed model analysis of variance (ANOVA) including the interaction Accession × Year (A × Y), it being assumed that each year would represent a different environmental condition
The characterization of persistent perennial ryegrass populations in the studied 3-year field trial was performed under fluctuating weather conditions
Summary
Lolium perenne L. (perennial ryegrass) is the most important forage grass species in temperate regions of Europe, Australia and New Zealand. (perennial ryegrass) is the most important forage grass species in temperate regions of Europe, Australia and New Zealand. It is an important cool-season bunchgrass, widely used in pure stands and mixtures for forage, turf and multifunctional uses, such as soil erosion control (Elazreg et al, 2011). It has a wide ecological distribution across temperate humid and Mediterranean semi-arid areas. The inability of perennial ryegrass varieties to provide permanent pure stands or to maintain their presence beyond
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