FestuloliumFestulolium (rye fescue) is a new forage grass developed by crossing a fescue (meadow fescue or tall fescue) with a ryegrass (perennial or Italian).
This produces a combination of the best properties of the two types.
The fescues contribute qualities such as cold resistance, drought tolerance and persistence. The ryegrass is characterised by rapid establishment, good spring growth, digestibility, sugar content, and palatability. The individual festulolium varieties contain various combinations of these qualities and can therefore be classified according to their degree of similarity to the parents.
Italian ryegrass types e.g. variety Becva
Morphologically and in terms of cultivation, they resembles Italian ryegrass and are suitable for harvesting in the year of sowing, and for one year of use, either in pure stand or together with e.g. red clover. The object is to combine the yield and quality of Italian ryegrass with the better persistence and resistance to xanthomonas, rust and snow mold of fescue.
Hybrid ryegrass type e.g. variety Lofa
Morphologically and in terms of cultivation, this hybrid resembles ryegrass with a persistence of up to 3-4 years, combined with a better resistance to xanthomonas, rust and snow mold.
Festulolium braunii type e.g. varieties Perun, Paulita and Persus
Morphologically these varieties resemble Italian ryegrass but, like meadow fescue, they live for up to four years. They are suitable for both conservation and grazing. The object of the breeding program is to retain yield and quality and combine it with resistance to disease and winter conditions.
Tall fescue type e.g. varieties Hykor and Felina
Morphologically and in terms of cultivation, these types resemble tall fescue. They combine frost, drought, and heat tolerance with improved feed quality over tall fescue.
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