Attributes of Tall Fescue Germplasm of Diverse Geographic Origin

Abstract

Foreign plant introductions (Pl) of tall rescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) have not been adequately evaluated in the USA. Our objective was to determine whether variability in important agronomic characters exists among and within tall fescue accessions of different geographic origin. Twenty‐six foreign PI and three U.S. cultivars were compared in each of two space‐planted field experiments in different years and locations in West Virginia for water soluble carbohydrate concentration (WSC) of summer forage, yield, disease resistance, relative maturity, and winter injury. Accessions were grouped according to their geographic origin (three USA, 15 European, six Central Asian, and five Mediterranean). Data from the two experiments were combined because the same plant populations were evaluated in similarly designed studies. The USA and European groups yielded more first‐cat herbage (166 and 152 plant−1, respectively) than the Mediterranean group (110 g plant−1); they also yielded more regrowth herbage (51 g plant−1) than the Central Asian and Mediterranean groups (34 and 32 g plant−1, respectively). The European group was less diseased than the Central Asian and Mediterranean groups (P < 0.05). Geographic groups did not differ significantly in mean WSC, relative maturity, or winter injury. Substantial variation existed among accessions for all characters studied except winter injury. Among accessions, mean WSC ranged from 49 to 94 g kg−1, first‐cut dry matter yield ranged from 49 to 180 g plant−1, regrowth dry matter yield ranged from 11 to 58 g plant−1, and relative maturity ranged from 1.7 (boot) to 5.3 (half bloom). Accession means were not significantly different in winter injury score, but several North African and Israeli introductions, evaluated only in the first experiment, exhibited ≥42% winterkill. Genotypes markedly unadapted to the study environment were eliminated during the first winter, resulting in a population relatively homogeneous in winterhurdiness. ‘Kentucky 31’ was highest (P − 0.05) in WSC (94 g kg−1), but several European PI yielded more, were more disease resistant, or were earlier maturing. No foreign PI exceeded ‘Alta’ or ‘Fawn’ in yield (P < 0.05) although many had higher WSC. Central Asian and Mediterranean PI were generally undesirable in one or more characters. We conclude that breeding strategies for rapid development of tall fescue cultivars adapted to the temperate USA should concentrate on domestic cultivurs and European introductions as sources of superior germplasm.

Molecular characterisation and interpretation of genetic diversity within globally distributed germplasm collections of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) and meadow fescue (F. pratensis Huds.)

“…It is possible that the unique Iranian and central Asian hexaploid tall fescues arose following hybridization between the Caucasian meadow fescue and tetraploid tall fescue. Divergence between central European and Asian tall fescue populations has previously been reported following the analysis of a number of phenotypic traits including water soluble carbohydrate concentration, yield and disease resistance (Burner et al 1988). Particular attention has also been paid to Iranian tall fescue populations, which have been described as highly distinct from accessions of other geographical regions, and have been the subject of multiple genetic diversity studies (Majidi and Mirlohi 2010;ShariW Tehrani et al 2009).…”

“…The hexaploid tall fescue germplasm collection contains almost 1,000 accessions, for which the morphotype identity of each accession is currently unknown. This collection undoubtedly provides an important source of diverse germplasm for cultivar improvement, and phenotypic assessment of selected accessions from this collection has previously been performed with the aim of identifying germplasm capable of out-performing current varieties (Burner et al 1988;Harris et al 2008). Given the low level of hybrid fertility between the morphotypes, however, the ability to Wrst discriminate between each in a simple, unambiguous manner is important for successful management of this collection, as well as for subsequent tall fescue improvement programs.…”

Relative effects of irrigation and intense shade on productivity of alley-cropped tall fescue herbage

“…Tall fescue entries were randomly assigned to one of three subplots within each of six plots. Subplots consisted of a single row of four plants of each tall fescue entry spaced 50 cm apart to minimize plant-plant competition (Burner et al 1988). Plants also were spaced 50 cm from the existing tall fescue sward, and there was one buffer tall fescue plant at each end of the plot.…”

Tall fescue in Australia and New Zealand

“…There remain large resources of untapped genetic variation in collections of tall fescue (de Araujo et al 1983;Burner et al 1988;van Santen & Collins 1991 for recent examples), and most tall fescue breeding pools in the world have probably been through very few generations of selection. The intriguing potential of hybridisation with Lolium still attracts, with new methods available (Scott & White 1988).…”