SELECTION FOR IMPROVED SEED YIELD IN PERENNIAL RYEGRASS (LOLIUM PERENNE L.) BY TWO GENERATIONS OF PHENOTYPIC SELECTION

A.H. Marshall and P.W. Wilkins

Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research, Plas Gogerddan, Aberystwyth,

Ceredigion, United Kingdom, SY23 3EB.

Two generations of recurrent phenotypic selection for seed yield per plant were carried out as a strategy to increase seed yield of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). Significant improvements in seed yield of selected material over unselected material were observed in individual plants grown in the glasshouse and in field plots.  Detailed observations of seed yield components has attributed the increase in seed yield to a higher proportion of ovules forming seeds (% seed/set) and seed number per tiller.  The implications of this approach for the breeding of perennial ryegrass varieties which combine good agronomic performance and acceptable seed yields is discussed.

Keywords: perennial ryegrass; seed production; phenotypic selection.