VARIETIES OF ITALIAN RYEGRASS IN NEW ZEALAND

Abstract

To assist farmers and their advisers in becoming familiar with the many different varieties of Italian ryegrass currently available, this paper compares morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics of Concord, Ceres Progrow, Lemtal (Belgium), Grasslands Tama, Grasslands Paroa, Grasslands Moata, Te Puna, Te Rahu, Bradley, Rakaia and also Grasslands Manawa, a hybrid cultivar which behaves as a persistent Italian ryegrass. In trials at Palmerston North in 1966/67, Moata stood out for its size in comparison to all other lines. Rakaia and Progrow from the South Island were short-lived and early heading, went directly to head after spring sowing and had large heads and many florets per spikelet, despite small size of leaves and plants. By contrast, Concord and Te Rahu from North Island dairy pastures were persistent, later heading and large in both vegetative and reproductive characteristics. All the varieties based on NZ material were quicker to germinate than any of the cultivars bred from overseas material, and, except Bradley, contained Acremonium endophyte. Keywords: Lolium multiflorum Lam., crown rust, germination, vernalisation, electrophoresis, seed protem banding, vegetative and reproductive characteristics, Acremonium endophyte.