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The LLU Agency "Research Institute of Agriculture" is carrying out an active selection research activities thanks to the support of the Ministry of Agriculture and in accordance with the contract; now the main activity is breeding of new cocksfoot varieties and hybrids of interspecies. Hybrids of interspecies can be divided into 3 groups: perennial ryegrass hybrids with meadow fescue, perennial ryegrass hybrids with tall fescue and meadow fescue hybrids with tall fescue. Selection work is being carried out in several stages: the choice and research of selection material, hybridisation nurseries, selective nurseries, nurseries of progeny evaluation. The term "perennial ryegrass hybrids" refers tofestulolium hybrids which are produced by crossing species of the genus Festuca with the species of the genus Lolium and fescue species hybrids within the genus Festuca which now are defined as hybrid fescues. Hybrids of interspecies formation are aimed at combining valuable economic and biological properties of several species in one. All hybrids can be divided into two large categories: type of Lolium and type of Festuca. The breeding of perennial ryegrass hybrids is different from usual perennial ryegrass breeding schemes with selection material sourcing which can be divided into two stages: obtaining hybrids and fertility renovation. Cocksfoot is one of the most common forage crops in Latvia, but it has several serious deficiencies as a forage crop despite suitability to local agro-climatic conditions, mainly due to lower edibility compared to other grasses. The selection work of cocksfoot is focused on creating productive cocksfoot shapes with good winter hardiness and softer leaves. Cocksfoot selection includes the research of the selection material, inbreeding of the preferable forms, individual and family selection, the combination of desired shapes in new populations and the evaluation of their economic and biological qualities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New hybrid grasses have been introduced in Latvia recently. Hybrid ryegrass (Loliumxboucheanum Kunth.), considered an ideal grass for European agriculture, is not sufficiently robust to meet many of environmental challenges that face extensive agriculture in less favoured areas. New opportunities for forage production using intergeneric hybrids between more distantly related ryegrass and fescue species have been identified. Diversity of factors controlling festulolium (xFestulolium Asch. & Graebn.) productivity is discussed in many researches. Using intergeneric hybrids, the identification of major factors controlling productivity and feeding value is complicated because of the numerous traits characteristic of their progenitor species. Parental species traits and potential of intergeneric hybrids have been investigated to determine the main factors that influence grass growth and quality, such as nitrogen fertilization, grazing and cutting management, climatic factors and sward age. The importance and potential of new grass species have been analysed. The main target for introgression has been the introduction of biotic and abiotic stress tolerance from Festuca spp. into Lolium spp. Festulolium can show completely novel characteristics, but mostly they are expressed intermediarily. Some varieties are more like ryegrass and some more like fescue, depending on the breeding effort following the cross. Cultivars of festulolium are promising species of fodder grasses in Latvia. Due to its competitive productivity festulolium may be equally ranked with the main forage grasses such as meadow fescue grown in the climatic zone of Latvia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]