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Molecular diversity and genetic affinity in the Lolium/ Festuca grass complex have been assessed using simple sequence repeat (SSR) marker technology. The genotypic set was derived from three accessions of perennial ryegrass, two cultivars of Italian ryegrass, two cultivars of meadow fescue, two cultivars of tall fescue and 10 accessions from different intergeneric hybrid ( Festulolium) combinations. The majority of the genomic DNA-derived SSR primer pairs from perennial ryegrass (LPSSR) and Italian ryegrass (LMSSR) produced clear, simple and distinctive amplification products from the majority of the genotypes. The efficiency of cross-specific amplification for LPSSR markers varied from 38% in meadow fescue to 93% in two cultivars of Festulolium and from 57% in meadow fescue to 87% in Italian ryegrass for LMSSR markers. Of 40 amplified markers, 14 (35%) produced species-difference alleles in the relation to cultivars used in the present study. Thirty-five LPSSR locus-derived alleles were found to be specific to Lolium species, four to meadow fescue and six to tall fescue. For LMSSR alleles, eight were specific to Lolium species and five were only associated with Italian ryegrass, and null alleles were detected for meadow fescue in all instances. These species-difference markers could clearly identify different accessions of Festulolium. Cluster analysis separated the individual taxa and showed grouping of intergeneric hybrids based on genomic composition. The data distinguished between the species and reflected the known pedigree of the cultivars and the differences between the species. The dendrogram also distinguished between the Festulolium accessions and clearly demonstrated the relations between Festulolium hybrids and their parent species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crown rust, Puccinia coronata Corda, causes one of the most damaging foliar diseases in Italian ryegrass, Lolium multiflorum Lam. For introgression of crown rust resistance, highly resistant hybrids of the crosses Festuca arundinacea (2n = 6x = 42) × L. multiflorum (2n = 4x = 28) and reciprocally, L. multiflorum (2n = 2x = 14) × Festuca pratensis (2n = 4x = 28) and subsequently resistant recombinant individuals were used as female parents and susceptible cultivars of Italian ryegrass as male parents in three successive backcrosses. The BC[sub 3] plants were selfed and crossed mutually. Uredospores of seven different crown rust isolates collected from plants of L. multiflorum, Lolium perenne, F. pratensis, F. arundinacea and L. multiflorum × F. pratensis hybrids were applied to identify the resistance or susceptibility of the parental species, backcrossed, selfed and intercrossed progenies. The various crown rust populations revealed a species-specific capability to infect plants of the Lolium–Festuca complex corresponding to the host species from which the spores originated. Selected BC[sub 3] plants, however, were found to be completely resistant to all crown rust populations tested. Successful introgression of the resistance was achieved from F. arundinacea as well as from F. pratensis. The resistance represents a dominant character, apparently based on a strong heterologous incompatibility between host and pathogen. In phenotype, bivalent formation during meiosis and in fertility, the novel germplasms are comparable with the L. multiflorum cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the usefulness of the doubled haploid (DH) method in the breeding of forage grasses, a sample of anther-derived progeny of penta-ploid F[sub1] hybrids of Festuca arundinacea × Lolium multifiorum was karyotyped using genomic in situ hybridization (GISH). The technique allowed scoring of the total number of chromosomes, the number of chromosomes contributed by each parent, and the number and positions of the Festuca-Lolium translocation breakpoints. Among 27 plants analysed, 13 belonged to three clones, effectively reducing the number of different progeny karyotyped to 17. These included 10 haploids, five doubled haploids and two plants for which the origins could not be explained. In all plants analysed, a mixture of chromosomes of both parents was present, including an average of 1.88 intergeneric translocations per plant. The translocation breakpoints were distributed along almost the entire length of the chromosome arms Chromosome variation among androgenic progeny appeared much wider than that in the conventional backcross but low vigour and high mortality suggest that this additional variation may be difficult to exploit directly in breeding However, a change in the pattern of recombination makes the entire genotne accessible to manipulation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on the first results of feeding value experiments, assessed with sheep, of hybrids between tetraploid Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum, 2n = 4x = 28) and a progenitor of tall fescue, Festuca arundinacea var. glaucescens (2n = 4x = 28). Three hybrid populations resulting from either high, low or no selection for palatability were compared with a variety of Italian ryegrass as control and two varieties of the cultivated hexaploid (2n = 6x = 42) tall fescue, one of which had been selected for high palatability. On average, the hybrid populations were found to be as palatable as the improved tall fescue with voluntary intake (VI), in vivo digestibility of organic matter (DOM), and net energy expressed in fodder units for milk, similar to the best palatable tall fescue and to Italian ryegrass. However, selection for improved palatability among hybrids did not result in any further improvement of other traits, except VI in the hybrid selected for high palatability which significantly exceeded VI of Italian ryegrass. In conclusion, intergeneric hybridization between L. multiflorum and F. arundinacea var. glaucescens led to an immediate increase of feeding value compared with selection for palatability in tall fescue. However, to improve feeding value of hybrids further, similar selection for high palatability appeared questionable and possibly detrimental for other agronomic traits because of complicated inheritance in tetraploid L. multiflorum × F. glaucescens hybrids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a back-crossing programme involving Lolium multiflorum (the recurrent parent) and Festuca arundinacea, the diploid L. multiflorum phenotype was rapidly recovered with the inclusion, in some progeny, of a small number of genes from the fescue parent. In field drought trials derivatives of these backcross populations were on average less drought resistant than the L. multiflorum parental populations, but 3 % of individuals were as drought resistant as F. arundinacea. After only one cycle of selection and polycrossing these drought-resistant Lolium-like plants, the mean drought resistance of most progeny lines was significantly improved, in some cases to near that of F. arundinacea. Available evidence strongly indicates that this improved drought resistance was due to the transfer of genetic material from Festuca into Lolium. These populations will contribute to variety improvement and to our understanding of the genetics and physiology of drought resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The suitability of different protocols was compared for entire plant regeneration by somatic embryo-genesis, of the forage plants Lolium multiflorum Lam. (Italian ryegrass) and Festuca arundinacea Schreb. (tall fescue). In the first protocol, immature embryos were used as starting material, while mature seeds were retained in the other two. Whichever the considered protocol, undifferentiated calli were produced on MURASHIGE and SKOOG MS medium supplemented with 2,4-D. The calli were subcultured in the dark on solid MS agar medium, containing 5 mg/l 2,4-D (protocol 2) or on solid MS medium followed by transfer to a rotated liquid MS medium with 2 mg/I 2,4-D (protocol 1). In these conditions, induction of somatic embryogenesis occurred, and whole plants were regenerated during a limited lapse of time, upon transfer in the light, to MS medium supplemented with BAP but devoid of 2,4-D. The simultaneous elimination of 2,4-D and transfer to light appeared essential for full regeneration of the plants. Using this characteristic, an additional step was added to a new protocol (protocol 3) in which microcalli, cultured on liquid MS medium containing 5 mg/l 2,4-D, were transferred to the same medium with 2 mg/l 2,4-D, in the dark. In these conditions, the suspensions kept their embryogenic potential for months. In all cases, plantlets were successfully transferred into the soil. An evaluation of the somaclonal variation potential of the plants issued from each protocol is now underway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development of tall rescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb., 2n = 6x = 42) x Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam., 2n = 2x = 14) hybrids would enhance efforts to improve the quality of tail fescue. Two 'Kentucky 31' tail rescue χ 'Lemtal' Italian ryegrass hybrids were obtained via embryo rescue on MS media containing casein hydrolysate, ascorbic acid and sucrose. Chromosome pairing at metaphase I had an average of more than 12 bivalents per cell. Since festuca-Lolium pairing can account only for seven of the paired chromosomes. intergenomic as well as interspecific chromosome pairing is indicated. There was no cytoplasmic effect on chromosome pairing. To determine if enzymes could be used as genetic markers for distinguishing hybrids from self-contaminants in crosses, zymograms of PGI, 6-PGD, MDH, GOT and ACPH were obtained from parents and hybrids using starch gel electrophoresis. PGI, 6-PGD and MDH had fewer bands in the diploid ryegrass, as compared with the hexaploid tall rescue and the tetraploid hybrid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New opportunities for plant breeding using androgenesis in Lolium × Festuca hybrids have been identified. Plants derived by anther culture from a Lolium multiflorum × Festuca arundinacea (5x) hybrid were screened for freezing-tolerance, and their post-freezing recovery compared. The androgenic population showed extreme diversity in freezing-tolerance. While the majority of androgenic plants had inferior freezing-tolerance compared with the freezing-sensitive L. multiflorum parent, 6% of the population were more freezing resistant than the freezing-tolerant Festuca parent. Novel Lolium and Festuca gene combinations resulting from rare meiotic events were recovered within the androgenic population. The two most freezing-tolerant androgenic plants carried virtually the entire F. pratensis subgenome of F. arundinacea. F. pratensis is known to carry genes for freezing-tolerance and would be expected to be the primary source of genes governing this trait within the F. arundinacea genome. The most freezing-tolerant androgenic plants were more freezing-tolerant than the hybrid plant from which they were derived. Consequently, androgenesis was also effective in removing factor(s) reducing the expression of freezing-tolerance within the L. multiflorum × F. arundinacea (5x) hybrid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]