Seedling Characteristics of Single Plant Progenies of Smooth Bromegrass : Bromus inermis LEYSS

Abstract

Smooth bromegrass seedlings derived from individual plants were evaluated for stand :and vigor in three trials in the greenhouse and one trial in the field. The results were as follows : 1. Progenies from single plants differed significantly in seedling vigor and stand, with some superior to commercial varieties. 2. Progenies superior in one trial tended to be better in others, although exceptions occurred. 3. Top weight of seedlings was sampled in one experiment, and this measure of 'seedling vigor was correlated highly with early vigor and final plant height. 4. Seed weight was correlated positively and significantly with seedling vigor but was not associated with stand. 5. Some differences in seedling characteristics occurred when 1958 and 1959 seed lots from the same plant were compared. Seedlings originating from the seed grown in 1959 were generally superior in vigor. 6. Variation ascribed to replication was highly significant in the fleld experiment but was important in only one of three greenhouse experiments.