Abstract
SUMMARYThe genetic basis of variation in rate of seedling growth, and development has been examined in the Australian commercial population of Phalaris tuberosa. A model of additive genetic maternal effects has been used, with seed weight of the female parent as an index of maternal ability. Rate of leaf appearance, rate of tillering and growth per tiller are all genetically variable in the population, with estimated heritabilities of 0·36, 0·23 and 0·34 respectively on an individual seedling basis. Total seedling growth has a lower heritability (0·17), due to a negative genetic correlation between tiller production and growth per tiller ( − 0·46). These two components have also been shown to be subject to qualitatively different seed size maternal effects. Genetic differences in seed size in the female parent have been found to influence growth per tiller, while environmental differences in seed size affect primarily the rates of leaf appearance and tiller production.
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