PERFORMANCE OF ADVANCED GENERATION HYBRIDS OF ORCHARDGRASS (DACTYLIS GLOMERATA L.)

Syn. 2 seed of 41 single crosses in orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) was produced by sib-pollination of F 1 plants. F 2 seed was produced for 19 single crosses by self-pollination of F 1 plants. For 41 single crosses the average yield of the F 1 was 7% above the check, and of the syn. 2, 4%. In four single crosses, the syn. 2 yielded significantly more forage than the check. For 19 single crosses, the F 1 yielded 6% above the check; the syn. 2, 3%; and the F 2 , 4% below the check. In most cases, the F 2 yielded less than the F 1 , although exceptions existed where the F 2 yielded more. Single crosses which are high yielding in the syn. 2 generation could be used for forage production.