Investigation on variation and relationships among seed yield and its components in sheep fescue (Festuca ovina) under irrigation and dryland farming conditions, Zanjan, Iran

In order to investigate the variation and relationships among seed yield and its components under irrigation and dryland farming conditions، 12 populations of Festuca ovina were studied using a RCB design with three replications in Kheirabad agricultural research station in Zanjan province، Iran. Seed and forage yield and morphological traits were recorded and analyzed. There was significant variation in all traits in two farming conditions. The annual average values of seed and forage yield in irrigated condition were 215 and 2161 Kg/ha and were higher than 121 and 997 Kg/ha under rainfed conditions. The populations 3، 9 and 5 with average values of 208-227 Kg/ha seed production and populations 3، 4 and 11 with average of 1805-2172 Kg/ha forage yield had higher production for seed and forage yield in both farming conditions. According to results، the population 3، selected from Alborz rangelands was recommended for pasture and rangeland rehabilitation of Zanjan province. DM yield was negatively correlated with panicle emergence date and positively correlated with plant height، panicle number، panicle length، and panicle weight. Under irrigated conditions، the relationships among seed yield with all traits were positive and significant except panicle emergence date. Based on principal components analysis، the first three independent components with 55، 18 and 13% explained 86% of the total variation. Based on cluster analysis، all populations were placed in 3 groups. Finally، all genotypes in cluster 3 with higher values for seed and forage yield than two other clusters are recommended for use in breeding programs to improve synthetic varieties.