New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research abstracts
Short communication
Breeding ‘GA 143’ perennial ryegrass (Lolium
perenne L.) —a population with branched inflorescences
W. Rumball1
J. E. Miller2
R. B. Claydon1
1AgResearch Grasslands
2Grasslanz
Technology Limited
Private Bag 11 008
Palmerston North, New Zealand
Abstract A population of perennial ryegrass (Lolium
perenne L.) was bred whose inflorescences show a high degree of
branching in individual heads, which contrasts with the unbranched
spikes normal in this species. The population was bred by mass
selection over 8 years, starting with 10 plants collected from grazing
sites at Palmerston North that showed a very slight degree of
branching. The final selection shows variation between plants in the
shape of the inflorescences, ranging from rigid, tightly compacted
heads to drooping, sparsely branched heads. However, virtually all
plants in the population show some degree of branching in individual
heads. The total number of spikelets on a head is similar to that of
tall fescue and considerably greater than that of current ryegrass
populations.
Keywords Lolium perenne L.; perennial
ryegrass; branched inflorescences
A04023; Received 2 April 2004; accepted 2 December 2004; Online
publication date 21 March 2005
New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 2005, Vol. 48:
83–86
0028–8233/05/4801–0083 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2005
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