Trinexapac-ethyl delays lodging and increases seed yield in perennial ryegrass seed crops

Abstract

The plant growth regulator trinexapac-ethyl (TE) is widely used to enhance ryegrass seed yields by reducing lodging (i.e. delaying collapse of the crop). However, lodging data are usually a single evaluation related to TE rate for a particular date of measurement. In eight field trials with varying rates of TE, weekly lodging assessments were made from full head emergence and days to 50% lodging were determined. In all trials, dynamic assessment of TE treatment showed there was a strong positive correlation (R 2 = 0.82) between the number of days to 50% lodging and seed yield. Nil TE reached 50% lodging in 7 days compared with 33 days for TE treatments of 400 g ha−1. On average, one days’ delay in reaching 50% lodging increased seed yield by 24 kg ha−1 (response range 16–33 kg ha−1). The data indicate that TE rate per se is less important than the rate required to delay the date that 50% lodging is reached. The seed yield response was linear for delayed lodging from full head emergence to harvest, suggesting that the highest yields are achieved if the crop is not more than 50% lodged at harvest.