A comprehensive multisite recurrent selection strategy in perennial ryegrass

As the seed market for forage grasses in France is rather limited, proposed varieties should have a broad adaptation to a range of different environment. Therefore a comprehensive strategy of multisite recurrent selection has been devised for perennial reyegrass. It is based on an experimental cooperative network between National Institute for Agronomic Research (INRA) and private companies. A pragmatic approach has been retained that gives a compromise between theoretical and practical considerations. The method is illustrated by results from a breeding population consisting of 33 half-sib families derived from a local germplasm. Family selection with an intensity of 30% was applied to yield and persistence data from sward plot trials. The strategy was based on a multisite index where trait x location combinations are considered as different traits and given equal economic weights. Improvements of 10-15% were expected for summer-autumn production and persistence. For spaced plant nursery traits, a subset of locations was chosen according to a multiplicative model decomposition of G x E interaction, where a 10% mass selection was practised. This leads to interesting progress on crown rust tolerance, growth scores, leafiness and persistence. Moreover, the expected indirect responses from selection on spaced plant traits to sward traits and vice-versa are almost all favourable. As significant improvements are expected for most traits in all locations, this programme should allow to increase the general adaptation of ryegrass varieties for France.