Evaluation of red fescue turfgrass accessions in genetic collection

Abstract

Experiments with 25 accessions of red fescue (Festuca rubra L.) were carried out at the Lithuanian Institute of Agriculture in Dotnuva in 2003–2004. The red fescue accessions differed in earliness, spring regrowth, bush diameter, inflorescence abundance, plant height and herbage yield. Most of the red fescue local populations were found not to possess the morphological traits and biological characteristics valuable for turf grass breeding. Tall-growing, wide-leaved, thin-bush forming plants of forage type predominated. Genetic resources of red fescue can be used as initial material for the breeding of new varieties. Cluster analysis revealed six groups of accessions differing in a number of characters. Keywords: red fescue, genetic resources, cluster analysis