Phenotypic traits in natural perennial ryegrass populations and relations to climate conditions at sites of origins across Europe

Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) is one of the most important forage grass species in temperate climates. However, natural perennial ryegrass populations have been exploited to only a limited extent by breeders. Therefore, 41 ecotypic Lolium perenne populations collected across Europe were st...

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Main Authors: Silvia Bachmann-Pfabe, Mareike Kavka, Anna Roschanski, Klaus J. Dehmer, Jean-Paul Sampoux, Evelin Willner
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Bioversity International 2025-06-01
Series:Genetic Resources
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Online Access:https://www.genresj.org/index.php/grj/article/view/272
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author Silvia Bachmann-Pfabe
Mareike Kavka
Anna Roschanski
Klaus J. Dehmer
Jean-Paul Sampoux
Evelin Willner
author_facet Silvia Bachmann-Pfabe
Mareike Kavka
Anna Roschanski
Klaus J. Dehmer
Jean-Paul Sampoux
Evelin Willner
author_sort Silvia Bachmann-Pfabe
collection DOAJ
description Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) is one of the most important forage grass species in temperate climates. However, natural perennial ryegrass populations have been exploited to only a limited extent by breeders. Therefore, 41 ecotypic Lolium perenne populations collected across Europe were studied for their agronomic performance in a 3-year common garden experiment located in north-eastern Germany (Poel Island, Mecklenburg Western Pomerania). Agronomic performances were evaluated on 30 plants per population for 11 traits related to forage value and environmental adaptation. Population means for studied traits were correlated to the values of climate variables at their collection sites. Populations clearly differed in their phenotypic performance, and eight populations originating from Belgium, France and Germany outperformed the other populations by showing the lowest winter damage, strongest spring growth and regrowth capacity after cuts and low disease susceptibility. Specifically, in the first experimental year, trait performances, in particular winter damage, spring growth and heading date, were related to the local climate at the site of origin of populations. Acclimation to the climate conditions at the experimental site might explain why these correlations were less pronounced in the second and third experimental years. The characterized populations might now be considered to improve specific traits in breeding.
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institution OA Journals
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publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Bioversity International
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spelling doaj-art-61798115df3c42e1946ac1f512569aa32025-08-20T02:07:57ZengBioversity InternationalGenetic Resources2708-37642025-06-0161110.46265/genresj.MDSO5816Phenotypic traits in natural perennial ryegrass populations and relations to climate conditions at sites of origins across EuropeSilvia Bachmann-Pfabe0Mareike Kavka1Anna Roschanski2Klaus J. Dehmer3Jean-Paul Sampoux4Evelin Willner5Satellite Collections North, Oil and Fodder Crop Collections, Gene Bank Department, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Malchow (Poel), Germany; Present address: Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences, Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, University of Applied Sciences Neubrandenburg, GermanySatellite Collections North, Oil and Fodder Crop Collections, Gene Bank Department, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Malchow (Poel), GermanySatellite Collections North, Oil and Fodder Crop Collections, Gene Bank Department, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Malchow (Poel), Germany; Present address: Institute of Botany and Landscape Ecology, University of Greifswald, GermanySatellite Collections North, Oil and Fodder Crop Collections, Gene Bank Department, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Malchow (Poel), GermanyNational Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (INRAE), Lusignan,, FranceSatellite Collections North, Oil and Fodder Crop Collections, Gene Bank Department, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Malchow (Poel), Germany Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) is one of the most important forage grass species in temperate climates. However, natural perennial ryegrass populations have been exploited to only a limited extent by breeders. Therefore, 41 ecotypic Lolium perenne populations collected across Europe were studied for their agronomic performance in a 3-year common garden experiment located in north-eastern Germany (Poel Island, Mecklenburg Western Pomerania). Agronomic performances were evaluated on 30 plants per population for 11 traits related to forage value and environmental adaptation. Population means for studied traits were correlated to the values of climate variables at their collection sites. Populations clearly differed in their phenotypic performance, and eight populations originating from Belgium, France and Germany outperformed the other populations by showing the lowest winter damage, strongest spring growth and regrowth capacity after cuts and low disease susceptibility. Specifically, in the first experimental year, trait performances, in particular winter damage, spring growth and heading date, were related to the local climate at the site of origin of populations. Acclimation to the climate conditions at the experimental site might explain why these correlations were less pronounced in the second and third experimental years. The characterized populations might now be considered to improve specific traits in breeding. https://www.genresj.org/index.php/grj/article/view/272ecotypesphenotypic diversityclimate normsLolium perenne
spellingShingle Silvia Bachmann-Pfabe
Mareike Kavka
Anna Roschanski
Klaus J. Dehmer
Jean-Paul Sampoux
Evelin Willner
Phenotypic traits in natural perennial ryegrass populations and relations to climate conditions at sites of origins across Europe
Genetic Resources
ecotypes
phenotypic diversity
climate norms
Lolium perenne
title Phenotypic traits in natural perennial ryegrass populations and relations to climate conditions at sites of origins across Europe
title_full Phenotypic traits in natural perennial ryegrass populations and relations to climate conditions at sites of origins across Europe
title_fullStr Phenotypic traits in natural perennial ryegrass populations and relations to climate conditions at sites of origins across Europe
title_full_unstemmed Phenotypic traits in natural perennial ryegrass populations and relations to climate conditions at sites of origins across Europe
title_short Phenotypic traits in natural perennial ryegrass populations and relations to climate conditions at sites of origins across Europe
title_sort phenotypic traits in natural perennial ryegrass populations and relations to climate conditions at sites of origins across europe
topic ecotypes
phenotypic diversity
climate norms
Lolium perenne
url https://www.genresj.org/index.php/grj/article/view/272
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