Summary
Assessments of freezing tolerance, estimated in terms of temperature at which 50% mortality occurs (=LT50), were obtained for 86 Lolium perenne accessions using a glycol bath test on naturally hardened field plants. Significant correlations were obtained between LT50 and both heading dates of accessions and minimum temperature of the coldest month near their sites of origin. The effects of temperature and reproductive development on the hardening/dehardening of plants and their growth after freezing are discussed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Breese E.L. & C.A. Foster, 1970. Breeding for increased winter hardiness in perennial ryegrass. Ann Rep Welsh Pl Breed Stn for 1970, pp 77–86.
Charles A.H., F. England & A.J. Thompson, 1975. The effect of nitrogen application and autumn management on autumn growth, winter ‘burn’ and spring growth of Lolium perenne L. at Aberystwyth, Edinburgh and Cambridge. I. Spaced plants. J Br Grassland Soc 30: 315–325.
Cooper J.P., 1964. Climatic variation in forage grasses. I. Leaf development in climatic races of Lolium and Dactylis. J appl Ecol 1: 45–61.
Finney D.J. 1952. Probit analysis. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 20–64.
Fowler D.B., L.V. Gusta & N.J. Tyler, 1981. Selection for winterhardiness in wheat. III. Screening Methods. Crop Sci 21: 896–901.
Fuller M.P. & C.F. Eagles, 1978. A seedling test for cold hardiness in Lolium perenne L. J agric Sci, Camb. 91: 217–222.
Fuller M.P. & C.F. Eagles, 1980. The effect of temperature on cold hardening of Lolium perenne seedlings. J agric Sci, Camb 95: 77–81.
Fuller M.P. & C.F. Eagles, 1981. Effect of temperature on cold dehardening of Lolium perenne L. seedlings. J agric Sci, Camb 96: 55–59.
Hides D.H., 1978a. Winter hardiness in Lolium multiflorum Lam. I. The effect of nitrogen fertiliser and autumn cutting management in the field. J Br Grassland Soc 33: 99–105.
Hides D.H., 1978b. Winter hardiness in Lolium multiflorum Lam. II. Low temperature response following defoliation and nitrogen application. J Br Grassland Soc 33: 175–179.
Hides D.H., 1979. Winter hardiness in Lolium multiflorum Lam. III. Selection for improved cold tolerance and its effect on agronomic performance. J Br Grassland Soc 34: 119–124.
Jenkins G. & A.P. Roffey, 1974. A method of estimating the cold hardiness of cereals by measuring electrical conductance after freezing. J agric Sci, Camb 83: 87–92.
Jones P.K. & A.H. Charles, 1984. The winter hardiness of Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus and Agrostis spp. in comparison with Lolium perenne. Grass and Forage Science 39: 381–389.
Lawrence T., J.P. Cooper & E.L. Breese, 1973. Cold tolerance and winter hardiness in Lolium perenne L. II. Influence of light and temperature during growth and hardening. J agric Sci, Camb 80: 341–348.
Lorenzetti F., B.F. Tyler, J.P. Cooper & E.L. Breese, 1971. Cold tolerance and winter hardiness in Lolium perenne L. I. Development of screening techniques for cold tolerance and survey of geographical variation. J agric Sci, Camb 76: 199–209.
Meteorological Office, 1972. Tables of temperature, relative humidity, precipitation and sunshine for the world. Parts I, III and VI, HMSO, London.
NIAB, 1982. Recommended varieties of grasses 1982/83, Farmers Leaflet No. 16. National Institute of Agricultural Botany, Cambridge.
NIAB, 1986. Classified list of herbage varieties, England and Wales, 1986–87. National Institute of Agricultural Botany, Cambridge.
Parsons A.J. & M.J. Robson, 1980. Seasonal changes in the physiology of S.24 perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). 1. Response of leaf extension to temperature during the transition from vegetative to reproductive growth. Ann Bot 46: 435–444.
Pomeroy M.K. & D.B. Fowler, 1973. Use of lethal dose temperature estimates as indices of frost tolerance for wheat cold acclimated under natural and controlled environments. Can J Plant Sci 53: 489–494.
Thirakul, A., 1985. Genotypic and environmental determinants of seasonal growth in Lolium perenne L. M Sc Thesis, University College of Wales, Aberystwyth.
Thompson A.J., 1974. The examination of some winter hardiness components in grasses using canonical variate analysis. J agric Sci, Camb 83: 545–550.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Humphreys, M.O., Eagles, C.F. Assessment of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) for breeding. I Freezing tolerance. Euphytica 38, 75–84 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00024813
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00024813