Differences in dry matter content between forage varieties of Lolium perenne L.

Abstract

Abstract:This study mined an existing database comprising 14 years (2002-15) of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L., PRG) variety trials under a 9-cut simulated grazing management. The dry matter content (DM%) values of a total of 246 different varieties in 617 variety x year combinations were compared between ploidies (diploid and tetraploid), maturity groups (early, intermediate and late) and between individual varieties of the same ploidy and maturity group. Average annual DM content was 19.3%. Diploids had a higher (P < 0.001) DM% than tetraploids (19.9 % diploids, 18.6 % tetraploids). Average DM% of the late maturity group (diploids and tetraploids) was higher (P < 0.001) than the intermediate maturity group which was in turn higher (P < 0.001) than the early maturity group. Significant differences in DM% were determined between each of the six ploidy x maturity groups: early tetraploids 17.9%; intermediate tetraploids 18.4%; late tetraploids 19.1%; early diploids 19.4%; intermediate diploids 19.8%; late diploids 20.3%. Significant (P < 0.001) differences were also observed between varieties of the same ploidy and maturity type. The potential of high or low relative dry matter content (rDM%) as a new character for variety evaluation that would be amenable to breeding improvement was discussed.