The genetical examination of 'Grasslands Ariki' ryegrass Lolium ((multiflorum x perenne) x perenne) : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Agricultural Science in Plant Science

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private study only. The thesis may not be reproduced elsewhere without

the permission of the Author.

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THE

GENETIC.AL E.XM,ITNATION.

OF

'GRASSLAt'IDS A..'R.Tia I

RYEGRASS

Lolium [ (n:ul tif'lorum x perenne) x perenne]

A thesis presented in partial .:f'ulf'ilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Agricultural Science

in Plant Science.

John Richard Sedcole 1970

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TABLE OF C ONT~NTS

Page

Preface ii

Aclmowledgments iii

List of Figures vi

List of Tables vii

Chapter I : Review and Discussion of the Relevant Literature 1 hlothods of assessing the sward performance of forage

plant genotypes 1

Simub.ted swards 7

No. tural selection within swards and in spaced plant

ploto 10

The diallel cross 11

Chapter II : I.'.a terials and Methods 1 7 The area and the f'ertiliser used for the experiment 17

The population 17

Crossing techniques 18

Harvesting 20

Plant type notes

25

Statistical analysis

25

Heritability estimates 30

Chapter III : Tables of Results and Analyses of Data 33

Chapter IV: Discussion

84

General appraisal 84

Interactions for green weight 84

Seed production 88

Green yield and tiller number 91

Vegetative and fertile tiller numbers 94.

Seed production and fertile tiller number

96

Characteristics of competitive ability 97

Chapter V: Conclusion 99

Genetic variation 99

Interactions 100

Components of yield 101

Competition 101

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TABLE OF CO!-;TENl'S (cont.)

Chapter V (cont!)

Chani:;es in plant type

Limitations of the experiment

Summary

Appendix Bibliography

Page 102 102 103 105 108

V

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Fig. 1.

Fig. 2.

Fig. 3.

Fig.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

C

.,,.

List of Figures.

Genealogy o-f' the Parents Plan of the experiment

Plan of the first two spaced plant treatment replications

Plan of the simulated sward

Netting laid out prior to planting sinulated sward

Close-up of plants growing in simulated sward Regression lines of green weight (gms) on tiller number in the spaced plant treatment for the November harvest

Regression lines of green weight (gms) on tiller number in the sward treatment for the November harvest

Regression lines of green weight (gms) on fertile tillr.r number in the spaced plant treatment -f'or the January harvest

Fig. 10. Regression lines of green weight (gms) on -f'ertile tiller number in the sward treatment -f'or the January harvest

Fig. 11, Regression lines o-f' fertile tiller number on vegetative tiller number measured in November. Spaced plant treatment

.,.

Fig. 12. Regression lines of -f'ertile tiller number on vegetative tiller number measured in November. Sward treatment.

Fig. 13. Regression lines o-f' green weight (gms) on plant position in the sward for the January harvest Fig. 14. Regression lines o-f' seed weight (gms) on fertile

tiller number for the spaced plant treatment Fig.

15.

Regression lines o-f' seed weight (gms) on -f'ertile

tiller number for the sward treatment <...'-

21

22

23

65

67

70

72

75

77 79

81

83

'

.

.... 1·

'

.

,1,

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Table I Table I I Table I I I

Table I.V

Table V

Table VI

Table VII

Table VIII

Table IX

Table X

Table XI

Table XII

Table XIII

Table XIV

Table X:V

Table XVI

List of' Tables.

List of' Parents Enumeration of' Lines

Expectations of' mean squares f'or the entire experiment

Expectations of mean squares f'or each treatment considered separately

Expectations of mean squares for the combining effects

Expectations of mean squares for the combining eff'ects

Average green weight (gms) per plant and rank for each line for the treat:nents separately and together. September harvest

General analysis of variance for green weight.

September harvest

Analysis of variance for green weight (gms) in the spaced plant treatment. September harvest Analysis of variance for green weight (gms) in

the sward treatment. September harvest

General analysis of variance of the combining eff'ects for green weight. September harvest Analysis of variance for the combining ef'fects for green weieht. Spaced plant treatment.

September harvest

Analysis of' variance of' the combining ef'fects for green weight. Sward treatment. September harvest

G.C.A. 'sand S.C.A. variances for green weight.

September harvest

S.C.A. 's for each cross f'or green weight (gms).

Spaced plant treatment. September harvest S.C.A. 's f'or each cross f'or green weight (gms).

Sward treatment. September harvest

Page

17

18

28 28

29 32

34

36

37

38 38

39 39

vii

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Table XVII

Table XVIII

Table XIX

Table XX

Table XXI

Table XXII

Table XXIII

Table XXIV

Table XXV

Table XXVI

Table XXVII

Table XXVIII

Table XXIX

Table XXX

Table XXXI

Table XXXII

Table XXXIII

List of Tables (cont.)

Heritability est~tes for green weight. September harvest

Average green weight (gms) per plant and rank for each line for the treatments separately and together. November harvest

General analysis of variance for green weight (grns). November harvest

Analysis of variance for green weight (gms) in the spaced plant treatment. November harvest Analysis•. of variance for green weight (gms) in the sward treatment. November harvest

General analysis of variance of the combining effects for green weight. November harvest Analysis of variance of the combining effects for green weight. Spaced plant trea t,nent.

November harvest

Analysis of variance for the combining effects for green weight. Sward treatment. November harvest

G.C.A. 's and S.C.A. variances for green weight.

November harvest

S.C.A. 's of each cross for green weight (gms).

Spaced plant treatment. November harvest S.C.A. 's of each cross for green weight (grns).

Sward treatment. November harvest

Heritability estimates for green weight.

November harvest

Average green weight (grns) per plant and rank for each line for the treat~ents separately and together. January harvest

General analysis of variance for green weight (gms). January harvest

Analysis of variance for green v.-eight (gms) for the spaced plant treatment. January harvest

Analysis of variance for green weidit (gms) for the svm.rd treatment. January harvest General analysis of variance of the combining effects for green weight. January harvest

Page

39

42 42 42 43

43

44 45 45 45

48 48 49

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Table XXXIV

Table XY.:J::/

Table XXXVI

List of Tables (cont.)

Analysis of variance of the combining effects

i'or green weight. Spaced plant treat~nt.

January harvest

Analysis of variance of the combining effects for green weight. Sward treatment. January harvest

G.C.A. 's and S.C.A. variances for green weight.

January harvest

Table XXXVII S.C.A. 's of each cross for green vreight (gms). Spaced plant treatment. January harvest Table XXXVIII S.C.A. 's of each cross for green weight (grns).

Table XXXIX

Table XL

Table XLI

Table XLII

Table XLIII

Table XLIV

Table XLV

Table XLVI

Table XLVII

Table XLVIII

Table XLIX

Table L Tab1e LI

Sward treatment. January harvest

Heritability estimates for green weight. January harvest

Average seed production (gms) per plant and rank for each line for the treatments separately and together.

General analysis of variance for seed production (gms)

Analysis of variance for seed production in the spaced plant treatment

Analysis of variance for seed production in the sward treatment

General analysis of' variance of the combining ef'fects for seed production

Analysis of variance of the combining abilities for seed production. Spaced plant treatment Analysis of' variance of the combining effects for seed production. Sward treatment

G.C.A. 'sand variances of' S.C.A. f'or seed production

S.C.A. 's of' each cross f'or seed production (grns).

Spaced plant treatment

S.C.A. ¹s of' each cross for seed production (gms).

Sward treatment

Heritability estimates for seed production Date flowering commenced

Page

49

50

51

51 51

52

54

55

57 57 57 58

ix

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Table LII

Table LIII

Table LIV

Table LV

Table LVI

Table LVII

Table LVIII

Table LIX

Table LX

Table LXI

Table LXII

Table LXIII

Table LXIV

Table lll:v

Table Ill:vI

Table LXVII

General analysis of variance for day flowering comnenced

Analysis of variance for day flowering commenced in the spaced plant treatment

Analysis of variance for day flowering commenced in the sward treatment

General analysis of variance of the combining effects for day flowering commenced

Analysis of variance of the combining effects for day flowering commenced. Spaced plant treatment

Analysis of variance of the combining effects for day flo'l,ering commenced. Sward treatment G.C.A. ·~ and S.C.A. variances for day flower- inc commenced

Analysis of variance, and G.C.A. 's for after- math heading. Spaced plant treatment

Analysis of variance, and G.C.A. ¹s for leaf- vridth. Spaced plant treatment

Analysis of variance, and G.C.A. 's for habit.

Sraced plant treatment

Regression of green weight (gms) on tiller number (per plant). November harvest.

Correlation coefficients between green weight and tiller number. November harvest. Spaced plant treatment

Regression of green weight (gms) on tiller number (per plant). November harvest.

Sward treatment

Correlation coefficients between green weight and tiller number. November harvest. Sward treatment

Average tiller number and average green weight (gms) per plant, and average tiller weight (gms). November harvest

Regression of green weight (gms) on fertile tiller number (per plant). Spaced plant treatment. January harvest

Hi:ge

58 58

59

6o

60

61

62

66

68

69

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List of Tables (cont).

Table LXVIII Correlation coefficients between green weight and fertile tiller number. Spaced plant treatment. January harvest

Table LXIX Regression of green weight (gms) on fertile tiller number (per plant). Sward treatment. January harvest

Table LXX Correlation coefficients between green weight and tiller number. Sward treatment. January harvest

Table LXXI Table LXII

Table LXXIII

Table LXXIV

Fertile tiller numbers. January harvest Ratios of fertile tiller number (January)

to vegetative tiller number (November) Regressions of fertile tiller number on

vegetative tiller number measured in November.

Spaced plant treatr.ient

Correlation coef'ficients between fertile tiller number and November vegetative tiller number.

Table LXXI/ Regressions of fertile tiller number on November vege ta ti ve tiller number. Sward treatment

Table LXXVI Correlation coef'ficients between fertile tiller number and November vegetative tiller number.

Sward treatment

Table LXXVII Regression coefricients of green weight (gms) on plant position in the sward treatment.

January harvest

Table LXXVIII Regression of seed production (gms) on fertile tiller number (per plant). Spaced plant

treatment Table LXXIX

Table LXXX

Table LXXXI

Correlation coefficients between seed production and fertile tiller number. Spaced plant treatment

Regression of seed production (gms) on fertile tiller number (per plant). Sward treatment Correlation coefficients between seed production and fertile tiller number. Sward treatment

Page

69

71

73 73

74

76

78

80

82 82

xi