Story: Pastures

New ryegrasses

New ryegrasses

Breeding and selection of ryegrasses has produced plants with improved qualities. The grass on the left on the left is a hybrid that has been produced by crossing the standard ryegrass (Lolium perenne) with the annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum). It has four sets of chromosomes in each cell, which produces larger plants that grow better in the winter and early spring. This one is called Grasslands Greenstone.

The grass on the right is a perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) that has been especially bred as a turf grass for sports grounds. This is called Grasslands Coronet, and is a dwarf ryegrass with small leaves and the standard two sets of chromosomes per cell.

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Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand
Photographs by Melanie Lovell-Smith

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How to cite this page:

Deric Charlton, 'Pastures - Ryegrasses', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/16169/new-ryegrasses (accessed 27 April 2024)

Story by Deric Charlton, published 24 Nov 2008