Evaluation of genetic variation in Several populations of Dactylis glomerata under Kermanshah province climate conditions

In order to evaluate genetic variability, 36 populations of Dactylis glomerata were investigated under irrigated conditions, using a randomized complete block design with three replications during 2009. Morphological traits were recorded. According to analysis of variance, a significant variation observed for forage yield, number of stems per square meter, plant hieght, flag leaf length and internod length. The highest value of genetic coefficient of variation and broadsense heritability were obtained for forage yield and number of stems per square meter, whereas the lowest value belonged to flag leaf width. A significant phenotypic correlation (P<0.01) were observed between forage yield with flag leaf length, days to pollination, plant hieght, internod length and number of stems per square meter. Comparing the means of cluster groups showed that populations number 1, 12, 3, 5, 15 and 8 had a desirable forage yield and vegetative growth. Factor analysis indicated that, 34.87 and 19.21 percent of total variance were explaned by the first and second factors respectively. Results of mean classification and cluster analysis of the triats confirmed by populations grouping based on first and second factors. Populations 1, 12, 15, 22 and 3 showed the highest vegetative and generative growth, based on the first two factors. Consequently, populations 1, 3, 12 and 15 showed superiority for vegetative and generative triats and could be selected for synthetic cultivar development in breeding programs under Kermanshah province climate conditions.