J. E. Miller

‘Grasslands Dixon’ prairie grass (Bromus catharticus Vahl.)

Abstract ‘ Grasslands Dixon’ (Bromus catharticus Vahl.) was selected from 72 Bromus seedlines evaluated in Texas, United States, between 1995 and 1998. The aim was to produce a cultivar of B. catharticus that would be more able to withstand the summer stress of southern United states, than does the currently marketed cultivar ‘Grasslands Matua’, which was bred in New Zealand. A trial was established at Texas Tech University, Lubbock, in which the lines were evaluated for production and survival over the summers of 1996 and 1997. From 1996, all 72 lines were screened at Palmerston North, New Zealand, for uniformity and distinc‐tiveness, and for seed production. In March 1998, the data from both sites were collated. They showed that three lines, all with a common origin from dairy farms near New Plymouth, New Zealand, dominated the best performers in Texas, and were also good seed producers in New Zealand. The best of these lines was put into a spaced plant block and made uniform by roguing. It was increased by seed at Lincoln and has since been commercialised. The selection was named ‘Grasslands Dixon’ and was given Plant Variety Rights in New Zealand in 1999 and Plant Variety Protection in the United States in 2001. Compared with the New Zealand cultivar ‘Grasslands Matua’, ‘Grasslands Dixon’ is more erect and c. 6 days later in heading. Compared with the other new cultivar, ‘Grasslands Lakota’ simultaneously released for use in the northern regions of the United States, it is more erect and c. 2 days later to head.

‘Grasslands Lancelot’ plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.)

Abstract ‘Grasslands Lancelot’ narrow‐leaved plantain was bred by four generations of selection from 109 seed populations, collected mainly from the Manawatu region, New Zealand. Compared with this highly varied base germplasm, Lancelot is a rosette‐forming cultivar but is more erect, densely‐tillered, productive, and uniform. Lancelot has been evaluated in pure and mixed swards under sheep grazing. The growth rate of animals is not high from feeding on pure swards if the foliage is rank or at the heading stage, both of which reduce intake. Carcass characteristics of sheep fed plantain are typical for their growth rates and the meat flavours/odours are typical of those fed grasses, less intense than those fed legumes. Animal performances from plantain/legume mixtures have matched those of other species in legume mixtures. There are indications that Lancelot has several mild ‘medicinal’ effects: anthelmintic activity in test tube assays (though not in grazing trials); antibiotic effect on rumen flora; high...

‘Grasslands Tekapo’ cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.)

Abstract ‘Grasslands Tekapo’ cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.) was selected from a European accession. It is a fine‐leaved, densely‐tillered cultivar, and of the same prostrate habit as ‘Grasslands Wana’ cocksfoot; but appears to show better compatibility with white clover in the sward. Tekapo cocksfoot is early‐flowering, warm‐season productive, and fairly similar to Wana cocksfoot in nutritional qualities. It is intended for use in severe grazing situations.

‘Choice’ forage chicory (Cichorium intybus L.)

Abstract ‘Choice’ forage chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) was bred almost entirely from ‘Grasslands Puna’ chicory, with selection emphasis on winter growth, greater uniformity and lower levels of the sesquiterpene lactones, lactucin and lactucopicrin. It is intended for use on dairy farms, where the low levels of these chemicals would be most unlikely to cause a taint or bitter aftertaste in the milk. ‘Choice’ has levels of c. 70–85% of those in ‘Puna’. Breeding took place between 1992 and 1998, and included three generations of selection for morphological features, then two generations to reduce the combined levels of lactucin and lactucopicrin. The cultivar is more uniform than ‘Puna’ in morphology and leaf shape, and is also more erect and winter‐active.

Breeding and description of ‘Grasslands Sustain’, a medium‐large‐leaved white clover (Trifolium repens L.) cultivar

Abstract ‘Grasslands Sustain’ white clover was bred to break the negative relationship between yield potential and persistence, by combining medium—large leaf size with high stolon growing point density. It is expected to grow and persist well under a range of stock classes and management systems. Winter growth is similar to that of ‘Grasslands Kopu’ but autumn, spring, and summer growth is improved. Depending on the trial, 50–60% of genotypes were cyanogenic. Peak flowering occurred 2 weeks after the longest day irrespective of closing date.

‘Grasslands G27’ red clover (Trifolium pratense L.)

Abstract ‘Grasslands G27’ red clover was bred from the tetraploid cultivar ‘Grasslands Pawera’, with selection aimed at reducing the concentration of the isoflavone, formononetin. Selection proceeded for seven generations and resulted in the formononetin level being less than half of that in Pawera under sward conditions. This reduction increases ewe ovulation, conception, and lambing rates by a significant amount. Other characteristics of G27, probably a consequence of reduced formononetin level, are increased palatability and reduced disease tolerance. Since both of these characters would tend to reduce sward persistence, G27 was selected also for increased shoot density and prostrateness to help counteract these weaknesses.

‘Grasslands Upward’ strawberry clover (Trifolium fragiferum L.)

Abstract ‘Grasslands Upward’ is a tall and erect cultivar of strawberry clover (Trifolium fragiferum L.) bred for use in dairy pastures and perhaps for hay and silage, on soils that are too moist or saline for white clover to flourish. In two New Zealand trials it consistently outyielded the Australian cultivar of similar type (‘Palestine’) though was less productive and persistent than the more prostrate cultivar ‘Grasslands Onward’ under those trial conditions.

Breeding of a winter-growing red clover—cv. Grasslands Colenso (Trifolium pretense L.)

Abstract ‘Grasslands Colenso’ red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) is an early-flowering cultivar resulting from a breeding programme using an ecotype of Moroccan origin and New Zealand ‘Grasslands Hamua’ red clover. The new cultivar combines the cool-season growth, persistence, and drought-resistant properties of the Moroccan material with the excellent summer herbage production of Hamua. The cultivars pasture potential lies in high-quality feed and cool-season production, particularly in temperate climates. By using infrequent grazing management, the cultivar will provide persistence in most New Zealand regions including summer-dry regions.

Breeding 'GA 143' perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.): a population with branched inflorescences

Abstract A population of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) was bred whose inflorescences show a high degree of branching in individual heads, which contrasts with the unbranched spikes normal in this species. The population was bred by mass selection over 8 years, starting with 10 plants collected from grazing sites at Palmerston North that showed a very slight degree of branching. The final selection shows variation between plants in the shape of the inflorescences, ranging from rigid, tightly compacted heads to drooping, sparsely branched heads. However, virtually all plants in the population show some degree of branching in individual heads. The total number of spikelets on a head is similar to that oftall fescue and considerably greater than that of current ryegrass populations.

‘Grasslands Sensation’ red clover (Trifoliumpratense L.)

Abstract ‘Grasslands Sensation’ red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), also known as ‘G40’, or ‘Swiss’, is a semi‐erect and early flowering diploid cultivar, showing persistence and seasonal growth under close to hard grazing, especially in summer and early autumn. The cultivar has been bred from four Swiss red clover cultivars, and is the result of two breeding generations. It has a moderate formononetin level. The potential of ‘Sensation’ lies in pure or mixed pasture situations, and it will give high herbage production in the temperate regions that already use red clover. ‘Sensation’ was consistently more productive than the diploid cultivar ‘Grasslands Colenso’ in field trials, and also outyielded tetraploid cultivars up to the fourth summer.