Publication Date
1989
Description
Increased rhizomatous spreading may improve persistence and uniformity of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) stands. The purpose of this research was to investigate possibilities of combining long rhizomes from a Portugese accession with adequate winterhardiness and seed production, high tiller density, and rust resistance. Five Portugese selections were crossed with seven more vigorous and winterhardy selections from other accessions, six from the USA and one from Spain. The Fl plants were highly male sterile, but they did set some seed when topcrossed to the adapted cultivar Kentucky 31 or backcrossed to the adapted parent. As a group, topcross (TC) and backcross (BC) progenies of Fl plants were superior to check cultivars in rhizomatous spreading, but they were inferior in winter survival (Diesburg, 1980). Broad-sense heritability values of 0.69 among entries in the progeny test and 0.63 among plants within plots indicated considerable genetic variation for plant width. This paper presents results from polycross progenies of selections from TC and BC progenies.
Citation
Carlson, I T. and Hurst, S M., "Breeding Tall Fescue for Improved Rhizomatous Spreading" (2025). IGC Proceedings (1989-2023). 23.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1989/session3b/23
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Breeding Tall Fescue for Improved Rhizomatous Spreading
Increased rhizomatous spreading may improve persistence and uniformity of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) stands. The purpose of this research was to investigate possibilities of combining long rhizomes from a Portugese accession with adequate winterhardiness and seed production, high tiller density, and rust resistance. Five Portugese selections were crossed with seven more vigorous and winterhardy selections from other accessions, six from the USA and one from Spain. The Fl plants were highly male sterile, but they did set some seed when topcrossed to the adapted cultivar Kentucky 31 or backcrossed to the adapted parent. As a group, topcross (TC) and backcross (BC) progenies of Fl plants were superior to check cultivars in rhizomatous spreading, but they were inferior in winter survival (Diesburg, 1980). Broad-sense heritability values of 0.69 among entries in the progeny test and 0.63 among plants within plots indicated considerable genetic variation for plant width. This paper presents results from polycross progenies of selections from TC and BC progenies.
