New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research abstracts

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Perennial ryegrass improvement in Australia

P. J. CUNNINGHAM¹
M. J. BLUMENTHAL²
M. W. ANDERSON¹
K. S. PRAKASH²
A. LEONFORTE¹

1Department of Agriculture
Pastoral and Veterinary Institute
Hamilton, Vic. 3300, Australia
2NSW Agriculture
Pasture Research Unit
Berry, NSW 2535, Australia

Abstract  Perennial ryegrass is one of the most researched and valuable temperate pasture grasses in the world. Historically, there has been minor attention given to its improvement in Australia, although at least six million hectares of perennial ryegrass-based pastures are used for the sheep, dairy, and meat industries. The performance of introduced cultivars of perennial ryegrass is reviewed and the main breeding objectives in Australia are discussed. A model for the National Perennial Ryegrass Improvement Program is briefly outlined, together with a range of support research considered necessary for the long-term success of the programme. Collaboration between public breeders and private seed companies would strengthen the programme by combining scientific expertise and support research with breeding, seed production, and commercialisation skills and ensure a balanced focus on industry and market needs.

Keywords  perennial ryegrass; breeding objectives; disease resistance; Acremonium endophyte; genetic resources; National Improvement Program

New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 1994, Vol. 37: 295-310

0028-8233/94/3703-0295 $2.50/0 (c) The Royal Society of New Zealand 1994

PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (1293K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)

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