Collecting and evaluating genetic resources of fodder plants from subalpine and alpine permanent grassland

Summary

The permanent grassland in the northern alpine and prealpine regions of Germany, Austria and Switzerland is characterized by a large genetic diversity of commercially important grass and clover species. This gene pool is endangered by the increasing practice of grassland renovation. The collection of genetic resources from that marginal habitat serves two purposes, therefore: Utilization of the gene pool in breeding programmes, and conserving the natural variation of endangered habitats. A considerable number of ecotypes of various species has been collected by several workers over a period of thirty years.

Special attention is given to the materials collected and evaluated by Scheller (several species), Tyler (several species), Spatz (perennial ryegrass), Krings & Simon (Italian ryegrass) and Simon (several species). The materials described contain genotypes which appear useful for the improvement of such agronomically important characters as date of heading, plant height, winter hardiness, persistency and rust resistance under marginal conditions. From Simon's collections six cultivars registered or applied for registration in the German List of Cultivars emerged.