Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-mlc7c Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-03T05:35:34.506Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The pattern of reproductive development and the leafiness of spring and early summer regrowths in two contrasting varieties of ryegrass

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

Ieuan Davies
Affiliation:
Welsh Plant Breeding Station, Aberystwyth

Summary

Early stages in the development of reproductive tillers of S. 24 and S. 23 perennial ryegrass are described. The pattern of development of the stem apex and of the unemerged leaves present at the time of floral initiation is traced up to the time when internode extension results in the elevation of the stem apices above the level of defoliation. If tillers with stems about 10 cm long, or more, escape damage to the stem apex during defoliation, the regrowth may be expected to deteriorate rapidly in leafiness, since at this stage there are few or no unemerged leaves. Tillers with 3–4 cm stems generally bear 1–2 unemerged leaves, and hence the regrowth is more leafy.

For a given stem length apical development was slightly more advanced in S. 24 than in S. 23. Consideration is given to selection methods to be used in breeding for leafy regrowths in springtime.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1972

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Aitken, Y. (1961). Flower initiation in relation to maturity in crop plants. I. Flower initiation in relation to maturity in some Australian oats (Avena spp.). Aust. J. agric. Res. 12, 371–88.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Aitken, Y. (1961). Flower initiation in relation to maturity in crop plants. II. Internode lengthening in relation to grazing in oat varieties. Aust. J. agric. Res. 12, 389–96.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Appadurai, R. R. & Holmes, W. (1964). The influence of stage of growth, closeness of defoliation and moisture on the growth and productivity of a ryegrass- white clover sward. J. agric. Sci., camb. 62, 327–32.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Charles, A. H. (1964). Differential survival of plant types in swards. J. Br. Grassld Soc. 19, 198204.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cooper, J. P. (1951). Studies on growth and development in Lolium. II. Pattern of bud development of the shoot apex and its ecological significance. J. Ecol. 39, 228–70.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Davies, I. (1969). The influence of management on tiller development and herbage growth. Tech. Bull. Welsh PI. Breed. Stn, Aberystwyth, no. 3.Google Scholar
Evans, M. W. & Grover, F. O. (1940). Developmental morphology of the growing point of the shoot and the inflorescence in grasses. J. agric. Res. 61, 481520.Google Scholar
Griffiths, D. J., Roberts, H. M., Lewis, J., Stoddart, J. L. & Bean, E. W. (1967). Principles of herbage seed production. Tech. Bull. Welsh PI. Breed. Stn, Aberystwyth, no. 1.Google Scholar
Sharman, B. C. (1947). The biology and developmental morphology of the shoot apex in the Gramineae. New Phytol. 46, 2034.CrossRefGoogle Scholar