Open AccessEvaluation and Breeding of Zoysiagrass Using Japan's Natural Genetic Resources
Author(s) -
Ebina Masumi,
Kobayashi Makoto,
Tonogi Hideaki,
Tsuruta Shinichi,
Akamine Hikaru,
Kasuga Shigemitsu
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
international turfgrass society research journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2573-1513
DOI - 10.2134/itsrj2017.02.0104
Subject(s) - heritability , biology , trait , hardiness (plants) , genetic resources , stolon , agronomy , breeding program , cultivar , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , computer science , programming language
In the early 1990s, breeding of zoysiagrass ( Zoysia spp.) began with the collection and evaluation of >1200 accessions from 100 natural Zoysia grasslands and habitats in Japan. Through this program, the accessions ‘Asagake’ and ‘Asamoe’, with superior agronomic traits and turf quality, were released. Using trait scores of 12 breeders’ lines, we preliminarily analyzed their broad‐sense heritability ( H 2 ) to collect basic breeding information. This analysis revealed high H 2 in spike length (96.3%) and spike color (98.6%), but low H 2 in stolon density (30.1%). The analysis revealed lower H 2 of physiological traits, especially of plant vigor after winter (44.7%). These results indicate that breeding for morphological traits could be easier than breeding for physiological traits, especially winter hardiness.