Evaluation of genetic variation in some accessions of Festuca arundinacea under dry land farming conditions in Kermanshah province

In order to compare genetic variation, 36 accessions of Festuca arundinacea were surveyed in random complete block design under dry land farming conditions, with three replications. Some morphological traits and forage yield of each accession were recorded. There were significant differences between the accessions. Accessions 6, 15, 7, 26, 20, 31, 16 and 4 had the highest value for forage yield whereas, accessions 17, 10 and 29 had the lowest values for forage yield. Also, significant phonotypic correlations were observed between forage yield and other studied traits. Among the studied vegetative traits, plant height indicated positive and significant correlation (p≤0.01) with the other traits (except with leaf width). Cluster analysis and mean comparison among the groups resulting from cluster analysis verified the results. Using factor analysis, three factors could be identified after Varimax rotation. The independent factors accounted for 70% of the total variance. The first factor indicated vegetative traits, sceond factor indicated spike length and number spiklet per spike and the thired factor indicated generative traits. Based on the results, accessions 3, 31, 32, 36 and 6 were superior for yield and vegetative traits and could be introduced and suggested to produce artificial cultivars in breeding program under dry land farming conditions in Kermanshah province.