Agronomic Value of Mixture of Perennial Rye-Grass Cultivars: Preliminary Results

Mixtures of grass and legume species are commonly used in sown grasslands. Mixtures have been shown to be favourable for stable production over cycles and years due to a succession of species over time (Mosimann & Charles, 1996 ; Nie et al, 2004). However, little is known whether the genetic variation in pure stands has an influence on the agronomic value and its variation over seasons

Application of metabolomics to the biochemical phenotyping of resistant maize lines to <em>Fuzarium Graminearum</em>

National audienc

Application of metabolomics to the biochemical phenotyping of resistant maize lines to <em>Fusarium graminearum</em>

National audienc

Inter-annual and spatial climatic variability have led to a balance between local fluctuating selection and wide-range directional selection in a perennial grass species

Background and Aims The persistence of a plant population under a specific local climatic regime requires phenotypic adaptation with underlying particular combinations of alleles at adaptive loci. The level of allele diversity at adaptive loci within a natural plant population conditions its potential to evolve, notably towards adaptation to a change in climate. Investigating the environmental factors that contribute to the maintenance of adaptive diversity in populations is thus worthwhile. Within-population allele diversity at adaptive loci can be partly driven by the mean climate at the population site but also by its temporal variability. Methods The effects of climate temporal mean and variability on within-population allele diversity at putatively adaptive quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were evaluated using 385 natural populations of Lolium perenne (perennial ryegrass) collected right across Europe. For seven adaptive traits related to reproductive phenology and vegetative potential growth seasonality, the average within-population allele diversity at major QTLs (HeA) was computed. Key Results Significant relationships were found between HeA of these traits and the temporal mean and variability of the local climate. These relationships were consistent with functional ecology theory. Conclusions Results indicated that temporal variability of local climate has likely led to fluctuating directional selection, which has contributed to the maintenance of allele diversity at adaptive loci and thus potential for further adaptation