Archived
This content is available here strictly for research, reference, and/or recordkeeping and as such it may not be fully accessible. If you work or study at University of Kentucky and would like to request an accessible version, please use the SensusAccess Document Converter.
Publication Date
1977
Description
Number of tillers and yield/tiller of tall fescue were similar in their association with forage yield, but were negatively correlated (r = -0.21 **) with each other. Area ofli:3f 6, which was correlated with leaf area expansion rate (r = 0.81 **), was correlated higher with yield/tiller (r = 0.58**) than with tiller number (r = -0.16*). Seeding characters were not strongly associated with number of tillers. In continental climates cool-season forage grasses produce most of their yield during the reproductive growth phase. In order to improve summer and fall productivity we are investigating development of the vegetative canopy. RHODES [1] concluded that long leaves, rigid leaves, and vertical tillers were important characteristics of high producing canopies under infrequent cutting. Earlier he [2] had shown a canopy shape by cutting frequency interaction with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) with horizontal tillers and shorter leaves being superior under frequent cutting. COOPER and EDWARDS [3] have shown that development of leaf length among ryegrass populations was more related to rate, than duration of elongation. Genetically improved populations of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) had more rapid rates of leaf area expansion than did natural populations [4]. Further, rate of leaf area expansion among tall fescue genotypes was affected 1.6 to 1.8 times more by variation in rate of elongation than by variation in leaf width [5].
Rate of leaf elongation in vegetative tall fescue was not strongly related to tiller number (r = -0.11) when plants were grown with low competition [5], and tiller number was about 1.5 times more important than yield/tiller in determining yield/plant. However, in field plots where competition among tillers was greater, forage yield during vegetative growth stages was closely related to leaf elongation rate [6, 7]. Objectives of the present study were to determine genetic variation in, and relationships among; morphological characters associated with canopy development.
Citation
Nelson, C J. and Sleper, D A., "Morphological characters associated with productivity of tall fescue" (1977). IGC Proceedings (1977-2023). 3.
(URL: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1977/sess1/3)
Archival?
Archival
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Morphological characters associated with productivity of tall fescue
Number of tillers and yield/tiller of tall fescue were similar in their association with forage yield, but were negatively correlated (r = -0.21 **) with each other. Area ofli:3f 6, which was correlated with leaf area expansion rate (r = 0.81 **), was correlated higher with yield/tiller (r = 0.58**) than with tiller number (r = -0.16*). Seeding characters were not strongly associated with number of tillers. In continental climates cool-season forage grasses produce most of their yield during the reproductive growth phase. In order to improve summer and fall productivity we are investigating development of the vegetative canopy. RHODES [1] concluded that long leaves, rigid leaves, and vertical tillers were important characteristics of high producing canopies under infrequent cutting. Earlier he [2] had shown a canopy shape by cutting frequency interaction with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) with horizontal tillers and shorter leaves being superior under frequent cutting. COOPER and EDWARDS [3] have shown that development of leaf length among ryegrass populations was more related to rate, than duration of elongation. Genetically improved populations of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) had more rapid rates of leaf area expansion than did natural populations [4]. Further, rate of leaf area expansion among tall fescue genotypes was affected 1.6 to 1.8 times more by variation in rate of elongation than by variation in leaf width [5].
Rate of leaf elongation in vegetative tall fescue was not strongly related to tiller number (r = -0.11) when plants were grown with low competition [5], and tiller number was about 1.5 times more important than yield/tiller in determining yield/plant. However, in field plots where competition among tillers was greater, forage yield during vegetative growth stages was closely related to leaf elongation rate [6, 7]. Objectives of the present study were to determine genetic variation in, and relationships among; morphological characters associated with canopy development.
