Premium
Genetic Variability of Mineral Concentrations in Tall Fescue Grown under Controlled Conditions 1
Author(s) -
Reeder L. R.,
Nguyen H. T.,
Sleper D. A.,
Brown J. R.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.2135/cropsci1986.0011183x002600030016x
Subject(s) - heritability , biology , festuca arundinacea , population , zoology , forage , gene–environment interaction , yield (engineering) , agronomy , genotype , poaceae , biochemistry , genetics , demography , materials science , sociology , gene , metallurgy
Altering mineral concentrations of herbage by breeding has been suggested as a means of reducing the grass tetany potential of coolseason forage grasses. Objectives of this research were to: i) determine the genetic variation, heritability, and interrelationships of yield, Mg, Ca, and K concentrations, and the K/(Ca+Mg) ratio in tall fescue ( Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) herbage grown under two controlled temperature regimes and two soil Mg levels in growth chambers, and ii) to determine if any genotype ✕ environment interactions existed under these conditions. Fifteen parental plants of tall fescue were randomly chosen from a genetically broad‐based population for use in a polycross mating design. Half‐sib families were evaluated for herbage yield, herbage concentrations of Mg, Ca, and K, and the K/(Ca+Mg) ratio for two harvests. Additive genetic variance was significant for all traits. Most genotype ✕ environment interactions were significant, which indicated that plants should be evaluated under different temperatures and levels of soil Mg. Narrow‐sense heritability estimates, on a family mean basis, were 77, 75, 79, 89, and 77% for yield, Mg, Ca, and K concentrations, and K/(Ca+Mg) ratio, respectively. Predicted gains from one cycle of phenotypic family selection were 12, 13, 14, 19, and 16% of the base population mean for yield, Mg, Ca, and K concentration, and the K/(Ca+Mg) ratio, respectively. Correlations between Mg and the K/(Ca+Mg) ratio showed that selection for a high Mg concentration would also reduce the ratio, which would be desirable in producing improved populations with reduced grass tetany potential.