Table 19-5. Trends in tall fescue breeding as indicated by turf cultivars registered by the American Society of Agronomy or the Crop Science Society of America, 1945 through 2005. Period indicates date of registration. Percentage germplasm contribution and trait selection derived from descriptions in registration articles. Percentages may total more than 100 because of rounding.

 

Period†

1945 to 1980‡

1981 to 1995

1996 to 2005

Number of registrations (n)§

0

25

25

 

------------- % -------------

Breeding method¶

 

 

 

Ecotype selection

 

0

0

Phenotypic selection

 

4

12

Recurrent selection

 

94

86

Other

 

2

2

Germplasm sources

 

 

 

Cultivars

 

0

0

Advanced breeding lines

 

96

100

Ryegrass- fescue hybrids

 

0

0

Ecotypes

 

4

0

Plant introductions

 

0

0

Other/not listed

 

0

0

Traits selected

 

 

 

Adaptation/persistence

 

7

0

Turf quality (color, texture, appearance)

 

17

22

Disease resistance

 

21

26

Maturity

 

13

10

Seed yield

 

19

14

Height

 

8

17

Uniformity

 

7

8

Other

 

7

2

Endophyte status#

 

 

 

E+

 

8

28

E-

 

4

0

E+/E-

 

0

0

Unknown/not given

 

88

72

Developer

 

 

 

Public (USDA, university, etc.)

 

18

14

Private

 

82

86

Plant variety protection granted

 

100

72

† Period indicates date of registration.

‡ Percentages may total more than 100 because of rounding.

§ Alta and KY-31 (1945-1980) listed as both forage and turf cultivars in their registrations.

¶ Breeding method, percentage germplasm contribution, and trait selection derived from descriptions in registration articles.

# E+, endophyte infected; E-, low or no endophyte; E+/E-, endophyte infected and endophyte free versions of the same cultivar available.

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