Clonal evaluation and estimation of genetic similarity of tall fescue genotypes (Festuca arundinacea Schreb)

This study was carried out to investigate genetic variation and similarity of 50 tall fescue genotypes. Plants were clonally propagated and evaluated during 2005 and 2006 for agronomic, phonological and morphological traits using a randomized complete block design with three replications. Results indicated that there were significant differences between genotypes for all of the measured traits indicating a broad genetic diversity in the germplasm. Genotypic coefficient of variability was highest for fresh and dry forage yield and lowest for days to pollination and plant height. The estimates of heritability for measured traits showed that days to pollination and crown diameter had the highest value and can be improved by selection. There was a negative correlation coefficient between dry forage yield and days to pollination and a significantly positive one between dry forage yield with other measured traits (except for flag leaf width) indicating that indirect selection through component of dry matter yield is possible. Applying cluster analysis on the studied attributes, genotypes were characterized in five groups. On this bases the least and the most similar genotypes may be used in the future breeding projects.