Abstract
Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam. ssp. italicum Volkart ex Schinz et Keller) thrives well in permanent grassland in mild and moist regions of Switzerland. Ecotypes of Italian ryegrass from Swiss permanent meadows have often been used successfully as the base material of breeding programmes. However, their agronomic performance per se has never been studied in detail. Therefore, field trials were conducted to assess the potential of this semi-natural genetic resource for use in breeding. Twenty ecotype populations were collected in different geographical regions in 2003 and seed was increased. Plot trials with 20 ecotype populations were conducted 2005–2007 at three locations, supplemented by row trials at two additional locations, and including four currently recommended cultivars as controls. Average performance in terms of yield, vigour and resistance to snow mould of ecotypes was superior to the cultivars. Depending on the characteristic, between three and 16 of the 20 ecotypes performed significantly better than the cultivars mean. However, resistance against crown rust of all ecotypes was significantly poorer than that of the cultivars. Correlation and regression analysis showed that more eastern and more northern collecting sites harboured better performing ecotypes. However, the most consistent site related factor favouring performance of the ecotypes in terms of yield, vigour, snow mould and Xanthomonas resistance was a low abundance of species which are typical of Arrhenatheretum type meadows. Data from the plot trials were related to results obtained with spaced plants at a single site, either in a seedling nursery or in the greenhouse. Resistance against crown rust was extremely well predicted by spaced plant observations. Xanthomonas resistance observed after artificial inoculation in the greenhouse was also significantly, but less closely correlated with field observations. An early date of ear emergence as observed on spaced plants was associated with high annual yield in the plot trials. It is concluded that in intensively managed habitats, natural selection has resulted in ecotype populations of Italian ryegrass which are highly promising for use in breeding. Individual plant selection for resistance can be expected to efficiently reduce their high susceptibility to crown rust.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anonymous (1999) Verordnung des EVD vom 7. Dezember 1998 über Saat- und Pflanzgut von Acker- und Futterpflanzenarten (Saat- und Pflanzgut-Verordnung des EVD). Amtliche Sammlung 1999:781–862
Balfourier F, Charmet G (1991) Relationships between agronomic characters and ecogeographical factors in a collection of French perennial ryegrass populations. Agronomie 11:645–657. doi:10.1051/agro:19910802
Bassetti P (1989) Einfluss der Bewirtschaftung auf die Regeneration von Italienisch Raigras (Lolium multflorum Lam.). Ph.D. Thesis, ETH Zürich, Zürich
Bolaric S, Barth S, Melchinger A, Posselt U (2005) Molecular characterization of genetic diversity in European germplasm of perennial ryegrass. Euphytica 146:39. doi:10.1007/s10681-005-4439-1
Boller B, Schubiger FX, Tanner P (2002) Oryx und Rangifer, neue Sorten von Italienischem Raigras. Agrarforschung 9:260–265
Boller B, Schubiger FX, Streckeisen P (2003) The EUCARPIA multisite rust evaluation—results 2001. In: UK Posselt, Greef JM (eds) International symposium on grass breeding. Vorträge für Pflanzenzüchtung Heft 59, UK, pp 198–207
Boller B, Schubiger FX, Tanner P, Streckeisen P, Herrmann D, Kölliker R (2005) La diversité génétique dans les prairies naturelles suisses et son utilisation en sélection. Fourrages 182:245–262
Boller B, Willner E, Marum P, Maggioni L (2008) Report of a Working Group on Forages. Ninth Meeting, 23-25 October 2007, Piestany. Draft available online: http://www.ecpgr.cgiar.org/Workgroups/forages/Forages9_draft.pdf
Borrill M (1976) Temperate grasses: Lolium, Festuca, Dactylis, Phleum, Bromus (Gramineae). In: Simmonds NW (ed) Evolution of Crop Plants. Longman, London, pp 137–141
Dietl W (1995) Wandel der Wiesenvegetation im Schweizer Mittelland. Z Okologie Naturschutz 4:239–249
Dietl W, Jorquera M (2003) Wiesen- und Alpenpflanzen. Agrarverlag Druck plus GmbH, Wien
Dietl W, Lehmann J (1975) Standort und Bewirtschaftung der Italienisch-Raigras-Matten. Mitt Schweiz Landwirtschaft 10:185–194
Gilliland TJ, Camlin MS, Johnston J (1995) Effect of harvest date and cultivar maturity on perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L) yield and digestibility. Ir J Agric Food Res 34:133–142
Hayward MD, DeLacey IH, Tyler BF, Drake DW (1982) The application of pattern analysis for the recognition of adaptation in a collection of Lolium multiflorum populations. Euphytica 31:383–396. doi:10.1007/BF00021655
Hinton-Jones M, Marshall AH, Thomas ID, Humphreys MO, Marum P, Sevcikova M, Sramek P, de Sousa MMT, Nielsen NC, Dhanoa MS (2007) Environmental effects on seed yield and costs of temperate forages during regeneration. Eur J Agron 26:235–248. doi:10.1016/j.eja.2006.10.006
Kaske A (2008) Europäische Gräsermärkte im Überblick. In: Rossberg R (ed) Arbeitsunterlagen 49. Fachtagung des DLG-Ausschusses “Gräser, Klee und Zwischenfrüchte”, Züchtungsperspektiven und Saatgutproduktion bei Gräsern, Klee und Zwischenfrüchten. DLG, Frankfurt, pp 99–106
Kölliker R, Krähenbühl R, Boller B, Widmer F (2006) Genetic diversity and pathogenicity of the grass pathogen Xanthomonas translucens pv. graminis. Syst Appl Microbiol 29:109–119. doi:10.1016/j.syapm.2005.07.004
Krings W (2001) Die Variabilität von Ökotypen des Welschen Weidelgrases (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) aus dem präalpinen Dauergrünland. Beitrag zu Erforschung, Beschreibung und züchterischen Nutzung dieser Grasart. Ph.D. Thesis, Technische Universität München, München. Available online: http://deposit.ddb.de/cgi-bin/dokserv?idn=962143138
Marum P, Nielsen NC, Sevcikova M, Hinton-Jones M, Chorlton KH, Rognli OA (2007) Regeneration of forage grasses: genetic contamination by windborne pollen as an effect of isolation distance. In: Rosellini D, Veronesi F (eds) Breeding and seed production for conventional and organic agriculture—XXVI EUCARPIA Fodder Crops and Aminity Grasses Section Meeting. Università degli Studi die Perugia—Facoltà di Agraria, Perugia, pp 206–209
Nüesch B (1959) Eigenschaften von Zuchtstämmen aus einheimischem Italienisch-Raigras. Mitt Schweiz Landwirtschaft 7:17–23
Nüesch B, Badoux S (1972) Kurzgefasste Beschreibung neuer schweizerischer Futterpflanzensorten. Mitteilungen für die schweizerische Landwirtschaft 20:65–68
Peter-Schmid MKI, Boller B, Kölliker R (2008a) Habitat and management affect genetic structure of Festuca pratensis but not Lolium multiflorum ecotype populations. Plant Breed 127:510–517. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0523.2007.01478.x
Peter-Schmid MKI, Kölliker R, Boller B (2008b) Value of permanent grassland habitats as reservoirs of Festuca pratensis Huds and Lolium multiflorum Lam. populations for breeding and conservation. Euphytica 164:239–253. doi:10.1007/s10681-008-9719-0
Posselt UK, Willner E (2007) Performance of Lolium perenne ecotypes in comparison with cultivars. In: Rosellini D, Veronesi F (eds) Breeding and seed production for conventional and organic agriculture—XXVI EUCARPIA Fodder Crops and Aminity Grasses Section Meeting. Università degli Studi di Perugia—Facoltà di Agraria, Perugia, pp 56–59
Sackville Hamilton NR, Chorlton KH, Thomas ID (1997) Appendix III. Guidelines for the regeneration of accessions in seed collections of the main perennial forage grasses and legumes of temperate grasslands. In: Maggioni L, Marum P, Sackville Hamilton R, Thomas I, Gass T, Lipman E (Eds.). IPGRI, City, pp. 167–183
Schmidt D, Nüesch B (1980) Resistance to bacterial wilt (Xanthomonas graminis) increases yield and persistency of Lolium multiflorum. EPPO Bull 10:335–339. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2338.1980.tb02707.x
Schubiger FX, Streckeisen P, Boller B (2006) The EUCARPIA multisite rust evaluation—results of the trials 2004. In: Rosellini D, Veronesi F (eds) Breeding and seed production for conventional and organic agriculture—XXVI EUCARPIA Fodder Crops and Aminity Grasses Section Meeting. Università degli Studi di Perugia—Facoltà di Agraria, Perugia, pp 154–158
Stebler FG, Schröter C (1892) Die besten Futterpflanzen. Teil I:2. Auflage. K. J. Wyss, Bern
Stebler FG, Volkart A (1913) Die besten Futterpflanzen. Erster Band, 4. Auflage. K. J. Wyss, Bern
Studer B, Boller B, Herrmann D, Bauer E, Posselt UK, Widmer F, Koelliker R (2006) Genetic mapping reveals a single major QTL for bacterial wilt resistance in Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.). Theor Appl Genet 113:661–671. doi:10.1007/s00122-006-0330-2
Studer B, Boller B, Bauer E, Posselt UK, Widmer F, Kolliker R (2007) Consistent detection of QTLs for crown rust resistance in Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) across environments and phenotyping methods. Theor Appl Genet 115:9–17. doi:10.1007/s00122-007-0535-z
Suter D, Briner HU, Mosimann E, Bertossa M (2002) Liste der empfohlenen Sorten von Futterpflanzen 2003–2004. Agrarforschung 9:I–XVI
Suter D, Briner HU, Mosimann E, Jeangros B, Stévenin L (2005) Sortenversuche mit Italienischem und Bastard-Raigras. Agrarforschung 12:242–247
Thomet P, Bassetti P (1989) Pflanzenbestand und Ertrag einer Italienisch-Raigras-Naturwiese in Abhängigkeit von Stickstoffdüngung und Nutzung. Landwirtschaft Schweiz 3:193–197
Vauterin L, Hoste B, Kersters K, Swings J (1995) Reclassification of Xanthomonas. Int J Syst Bacteriol 45:472–489
Acknowledgments
Madlaina Peter-Schmid and Eliane Tresch were partially funded through the programme “Diversity in Agriculture Campaign Plants (NAP)” by the Swiss Federal Office for Agriculture and in collaboration with AGFF, Arbeitsgemeinschaft zur Förderung des Futterbaus. We thank Peter Bigler, Daniel Schmid, Simone Günter and Philipp Streckeisen for technical assistance, and Serge Buholzer and Walter Dietl for advice with the classification of vegetation.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Boller, B., Peter-Schmid, M.K.I., Tresch, E. et al. Ecotypes of Italian ryegrass from Swiss permanent grassland outperform current recommended cultivars. Euphytica 170, 53–65 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10681-009-9963-y
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10681-009-9963-y