Selection for Nitrogen Responses in Lolium

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Abstract
Lolium populations from a diallel cross were tested for heritability of response to nitrogen in sand culture, in pots of soil and finally in the field. Heritability of response was found in sand culture for several growth parameters including leaf area and shoot dry weight. Response in pots of soil varied significantly between populations, but in a small experiment heritability was not shown to be significant. Selection of individual genotypes within the diallel populations was then carried out simultaneously for nitrate uptake from solutions and for growth in pots. The selected plants were finally tested for nitrogen response in simulated swards in the field. L. perenne plants did not differ after selection for high or low uptake, but L. multiflorum and interspecific hybrids produced lines which showed significant differences in nitrogen response. A second cycle of selection confirmed the lack of variation in the L. perenne lines chosen, and revealed a complex situation in L. multiflorum whereby the effects of selection were apparently reversed. In the L. perenne × L. multiflorum hybrid lines, however, the large differences between high and low response selections were maintained. High response plants had broad pale leaves while low response plants had rather narrow dark leaves.

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