‘Flecha', developed in Argentina and marketed by PPG Seeds (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia) is palatable, second only to Advance, with fine leaves and semi-erect growth habit. It has rapid growth following autumn rest periods and high winter and spring production. It will become semidormant in early summer in warm to hot climates and remain so despite summer rains as long as soil temperatures remain high. Growth commences again in autumn with the combination of cooler temperatures and soil moisture. Flecha only responds to summer rainfall in regions with cool summers. Flecha has shown superior persistence and production under heavy stocking with sheep and excellent survival when compared to phalaris (Phalaris spp.) during the severe droughts in Australia from 2001 to 2008. Flecha also has very good rust tolerance. It has rapid establishment and production in its first winter and spring.

‘Fraydo' (Avery and Anderson, 2000) was bred by Agriculture Victoria from the cultivar Melik. Fraydo has an erect habit, medium leaf width, and is early maturing.

‘Resolute' was also bred from Melik and is marketed by Wrightson Seeds Australia (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia). It has a broad leaf and semiprostrate growth habit. It is less strongly summer dormant than some other cultivars.

‘Prosper' (Macalister Research Farm, 2001, p. 44-46) is marketed by Heritage Seeds Pty. Ltd. (Mulgrave, Victoria, Australia). It has fine leaves and a semi-erect growth habit, intermediate between Fraydo and Flecha. Prosper is a continental tall fescue but behaves like a Mediterranean type. It is suggested for use on irrigated pastures and has summer production intermediate to those of perennial ryegrass and continental tall fescues.

The MaxQ novel endophyte started to be marketed in the United States in 2002 in the cultivar esup (a trademark of Grasslanz Technology Ltd., Palmerston North, New Zealand, commercialized in the US by Pennington Seed Co., Madison, GA, USA). In Australia, Jesup, Advance, Flecha, Resolute, Quantum, and Vulcan with the novel endophyte MaxP (trademark of Grasslanz Technology Ltd., Palmerston North, New Zealand) became available in 2003. Trials in Australia have shown dramatic advantages from use of the novel endophyte, with annual productivity gains of more than 20% and some seasonal advantages of 280%. It seems to provide the tall fescue plant with excellent tolerance to many insects, including black beetle [Heteronychus arator (Fabricius)] and scarab beetles (various species). This allows tall fescue to be used in areas where it previously had poor persistence, for example, the southern coast of New South Wales.

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