Response of some New Zealand pasture species to vernalisation

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Abstract
The effects on flowering of vcrnalisatiori of germinated seeds have been investigated in some pasture species, with particular reference to varietal differences. In all ryegrass varieties tested, 90 days' treatment at 3 0 c induced full flowering, and no flowering occurred in the unvernalised controls. At intermediate durations of cold treatment, there were differences in response both between and within varieties, indicating that vernalisation could be a useful adjunct to pasture plant breeding. In red clover, cowgrass required no vernrlisation, while Montgomery red clover flowered fully following 45 days' treatment. The usefulness of cold treatment of germinated seeds, or growing plants, for varietal separation is discussed. In timothy, there were varietal differences in time of flowering under the competitive conditions of the trial, but vernalisation had no effect.