TALL FESCUE IN AUSTRALIA AND NEW-ZEALAND

Tall fescue is widely naturalised in Australia and New Zealand. Its use in pastoral agriculture has developed with the availability of suitable cultivars. Naturalised tall fescue is infected with Acremonium endophyte and is known to be toxic. The significance of endophyte is briefly discussed. Tall fescue can be slow to establish after sowing, and palatability is sometimes inadequate. Greatly enhanced winter growth, through the use of Mediterranean germplasm, would extend use of the species into more summer-dry environments. Research supporting these and other objectives is reviewed. Current breeding programmes in Australia and New Zealand are described.