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Festulolium/High yield, stress tolerance Combining the best from ryegrass and fescue
Unique varieties with superior properties | | Yield | Persistancy | Stress tolerance | Feeding value |  |  |  | | |
Different types with different properties Very high yield of dry matter Tolerant to stress Low sensibilty to diseases |  |
Festuca and Lolium
Combining the properties of ryegrasses and fescues is not a new idea. In fact, nature has been doing this for thousands of years, and plant breeders for decades. The result is varieties with properties not found in any other single species.
The fescuesused for crossings are Festuca pratensis (meadow fescue) and Festuca arundinacea (tall fescue). Festuca pratensis is mainly found in the northern temperate parts of the world. Its main strength is winter-hardiness and good yield under cold and continental conditions. Festuca arundinacea is mainly found in temperate and subtropical areas. It is characterised by drought and heat resistance, but feed value is not so good.
Ryegrass is a small group with less than 10 species. Two species of interest for crossing with Festuca are Lolium perenne and Lolium multiflorum. Lolium offers high quality (palatability, digestibility) and high yield.
Properties for the three main types of Festulolium | Establish-ment | Spring growth | Summer growth | Digesti-bility | Winter-hardiness | Drought resistance | Persi-stency | | It. ryegr. | 8 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 6 | | Hyb. ryegr. | 7 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 5 | | Tall fesc. | 4 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
Characteristics 1 to 9 where 9 is better resistance, growth, digestibility etc.
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