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Genetic Variability of Mineral Concentrations in Tall Fescue Grown under Controlled Conditions¹

Altering mineral concentrations of herbage by breeding has been suggested as a means of reducing the grass tetany potential of coolseason forage grasses. Objectives of this research were to: i) determine the genetic variation, heritability, and interrelationships of yield, Mg, Ca, and K concentrations, and the K/(Ca+Mg) ratio in tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) herbage grown under two controlled temperature regimes and two soil Mg levels in growth chambers, and ii) to determine if any genotype x environment interactions existed under these conditions. Fifteen parental plants of tall fescue were randomly chosen from a genetically broad-based population for use in a polycross mating design. Half-sib families were evaluated for herbage yield, herbage concentrations of Mg, Ca, and K, and the K/(Ca+Mg) ratio for two harvests. Additive genetic variance was significant for all traits. Most genotype x environment interactions were significant, which indicated that plants should be evaluated under different temperatures and levels of soil Mg. Narrow-sense heritability estimates, on a family mean basis, were 77, 75, 79, 89, and 77% for yield, Mg, Ca, and K concentrations, and K/(Ca+Mg) ratio, respectively. Predicted gains from one cycle of phenotypic family selection were 12, 13, 14, 19, and 16% of the base population mean for yield, Mg, Ca, and K concentration, and the K/(Ca+Mg) ratio, respectively. Correlations between Mg and the K/(Ca+Mg) ratio showed that selection for a high Mg concentration would also reduce the ratio, which would be desirable in producing improved populations with reduced grass tetany potential.

Key Words: Festuca arundinacea Schreb. • Grass tetany • Forage grass breeding • Forage quality

² Former graduate student, now graduate assistant, Iowa State Univ., Ames IA; assistant professor of agronomy, Texas Tech Univ., Lubbock, TX; and professors of agronomy, Dep. of Agronomy, Univ. of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211.

Received for publication November 5, 1984.

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