Further evaluation of exotic germplasm of perennial ryegrass for use in French plant breeding programmes

Abstract

A sample of 70 wild populations of perennial ryegrass was received from the gene banks of ABERYSTWYTH (UK) and BRAUNSCHWEIG (Germany). They originated from Germany, Norway, Romania and Wales. They were tested as spaced plant nurseries in two contrasted locations in France: one in a semi-continental inland plain and one in the wet hills of Massif Central. The descriptive principal component analysis discriminated quite clearly the populations according to their native country, except for those coming from Norway. A hierarchical clustering method was used to determine 4 clusters which were consistent with the geographic origin of the populations. The most promising clusters as far as the genetic improvement of the yield and adaptation to French condition are concerned, were cluster 2 with mostly Welsh populations and cluster 4 of Romanian accessions.