Phalaris aquaticacv. ‘Grasslands Maru’

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Abstract
The roles of Phalaris aquatica L. in New Zealand farming and erosion control are briefly discussed, and also the need for a cultivar bred and readily available in this country. The breeding programme began with 2 spaced-plant projects which surveyed the genetic variation available and identified promising sources. The best lines were screened through mowing trials in a dry region, and 7 of them (received from Pergamino, Argentina) were chosen for further screening as spaced plants. Selection was aimed at improving establishment vigour, forage yield, palatability, seed yield, and uniformity. The resulting cultivar, ‘Grasslands Maru’, is based on 82 parent plants from 5 of the Pergamino lines. Its characteristics and suggested management are briefly described. It appears to have higher yields than the (then) available Australian cultivars, and has lower total alkaloid concentrations. Nevertheless, it may still cause phalaris staggers under long-term feeding to sheep. To help establishment, grazing should be lax and infrequent in the first year.

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