Hybrids Between Meadow Fescue (Festuca pratensis Huds.) and Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and Their Morphological Characteristics

Authors: Bilal DENİZ

Abstract: This study was carried out under glasshouse conditions in 1991. 1992 and 1994. By pollinating the emasculated autotetraploid meadow fescue (Tetra-Senu) plants (2n=28) and diploid perennial ryegrass (2n=14) the F festucoid plants (2n=21) 1 were produced. The triploid hybrids which are sterile and have indehishent anthers were compared to their parents with regard to some morphological characteristics. it has been observed that not only the spring and summer growth of triploid hybrids but also their aftermath growth were better than those of their parents. In triploids. the number of generative and vejetative tillers and the Ieaf Iength and width seemed to be intermediate in comparison with their parents. However. the dry matter content of triploid hybrids was higher than that of their parents. The plant height and rachis Iength were close to each other in triploid hybrids and meadow fescue plants and higher than those of the perennial ryegrass. In triploid hybrids. the spikelet and floret number per inflorescence were found intermediate whereas the floret number per spikelet was higher than that of their parents. But. spike density in triploid hybrids was found to be Iower than that of the parents.

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