Variation in turf-type morphological characters within Lolium perenne L. cv. Victorian

Abstract

Aspects of plant morphology and flowering were measured in a spaced-plant collection of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) cv. Victorian in order to assess the possibility of improving this cultivar for turf. The Victorian perennial ryegrass collection was also compared with a smaller collection of fine-leafed turf ryegrasses. Within cv. Victorian, positive phenotypic correlations were found betwecn the characterÆs leaf length and width, leaf length and sheath length, leafwidth and sheath length, leafwidth and leaf tensile strength, and leafiness (leaf number per unit ground area) and angle of growth. The correlated responses to selection were significant (P<0.001) for all characters, with the exception of heading date. Heritability values, calculated by using three methods, were also very high (>0.70). These heritabilities, combined with the fact that the variation found within Victorian ryegrass often encompassed the entire range in the turf ryegrass cultivars, indicate that an improved turf-type could be developed within cv. Victorian. However, some compromise must be made in selection strategies due to unfavourable correlations between the character's turf wear, assessed by using leaf tensile strength and appearance, and between vegetative growth and seed production.