DRY MATTER AND SEED PRODUCTION IN SOME INBREED LINES OF THREE AGROSTIS sp. SPECIES

Z. Tomic¹, D. Sokolovic¹ and G. Surlan-Momirovic²

¹Agricultural research Institute Serbia, Belgrade, Center for Forage Crops 37000 Krusevac, Yugoslavia

²Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade, 11060 Belgrade, Yugoslavia

The paper presents partial results of selection conducted on three species of the genus Agrostis L. originating from the wild flora of Serbia, such as Agrostis capillaris L., Agrostis stolonifera L and Agrostis gigantea Roth. The aim of selection was to create highly productive forage crop varieties not jet found in our domestic assortment. The starting material for perennial grasses breeding,  intended for forage, was selected by the method of inbreeding. The grass species used are widely distributed and present the foundation of many plant communities in our flora. In order to establish its variability and selection value, the obtained inbred material was tested by mother plants. The results present a portion of the inbreeding process carried out over two generations and their comparative testing with the starting material of mother plants. The produced progeny provides diverse possibilities of further work concerning both the applications of the inbreeding method and crossing of the lines obtained. Only some species and populations showed inbreeding depression, whereas some inbred lines of S1 and S2 generation achieved higher dry matter and seed production level. Seed quality as expressed by percent of generation viability and total seed germination provides the choice of quality materials in addition to mother plants and inbred lines.

Keywords: dry matter; seed yield; seed germination; inbreed lines; Argots sp. species.