Seed yield and quality of Italian ryegrass (Lolium italicum) containing different ploidy produced in the first harvest year

Abstract

Three cultivars (domestic K-13 diploid and K-29 tetraploid, and introduced Tetraflorum tetraploid) were investigated in two years trials, with and without spring N-fertilizing. The results of this investigation showed that successful production of Italian ryegrass seed could be achieved with two cuttings in first production year. Spring N-application did not influence the seed yield of the domestic Italian ryegrass cultivars, nor introduced tetraploid. Produced seed was of an excellent quality, with total germination above 90%. On the basis of obtained results it may be concluded that investigated Italian ryegrass cultivars have high seed production potential (2733 kg ha-1, cv. K-29); in temperate years the Italian ryegrass could realize 2 seed harvests; high seed production of Italian ryegrass could be obtained without spring N-application in Serbian conditions.

Keywords

• Italian ryegrass
• spring N-application
• seed yield
• 1000-seed weight
• germination rate
• total germination