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Floral Induction and Forage Yield and Quality of Sparse-Flowering Orchardgrass Synthetics¹

The purpose of this research was to ascertain the genetic control of reproductive tiller production in orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) and to determine whether sparse panicle production affects.forage yield and quality. We postulated that sparse-flowering synthetic would retain forage quality longer than normal cultivars as reproductive tillers mature in late spring and early summer. In the greenhouse, up to 12 weeks of cool, short days were required before some orchardgrass plants would flower under long-day conditions. The response of progeny from three crosses to floral induction treatments suggested that a complex interaction of genetic and environmental factors controls the onset and rate of reproductive tiller production. Reciprocal differences were not observed. Syn 2 generation of synthetics, that produced relatively few flowering tillers when grown in the northeastern USA, flowered and produced satisfactory seed yields at Prosser, Wash.

In the field under a hay management cutting system, the most sparse-flowering synthetic had slightly lower first harvest forage yield in June. than the check cultivars, possibly because dry matter was produced rapidly by the flowering culms of the cultivars. The absence of significant differences among entries for in vitro dry matter disappearance or lignin concentration suggests that the synthetics and cultivars were similar in forage quality. Thus, the experimental strains exhibited no apparent improvement in forage production or quality.

Key Words: Forage quality • Breeding • Heading • Flowering • Dactylis glomerata L.

² Research agronomist, U.S. Regional Pasture Research Laboratory, USDA-SEA-AR, University Park, PA 16802; professor, Dep. of Plant and Soil Science, Univ. of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, professor, Dep. of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, Univ. of Minnesota, St.Paul. MN 55108 (formerly research agronomist, USDA-SEA-AR, University Park, PA 16802); and research agronomist, USDA-SEA-AR, Prosser, WA 99350, respectively.

Received for publication November 3, 1980.