Evaluation and utilization of Leymus chinensis germplasm resources

Leymus chinensis (Trin.) Tzvel is a perennial forage and ecological grass, with high yield and good quality, strong resistance to abiotic stress and grazing. It is mainly distributed in the steppes of east Eurasia and China as a dominant species. Studies on L. chinensis germplasm investigation, collection, evaluation, and utilization are important for protecting L. chinensis stepp, establishing artificial pasture, improving degraded grassland, and the development of forage industry and animal husbandry. In recent years, great achievements were made in L. chinensis germplasm researches in China. A research system, "from the steppes to laboratory, and then from the lab to prairie", was established. Thousands of wild germplasm resources were collected and evaluated. Zhongke series of new varieties such as Zhongke No. 1, 2 and 3 were cultivated. A transcriptome-based database was established and a lot of novel genes were cloned and identified. In this paper, we gave a detailed review of the recent advances in the origin and distribution of L. chinensis, germplasm evaluation, new variety breeding, propagation and utilization. We also discussed self-incompatibility mechanism, which is the existed problem in L. chinensis seed product. We proposed the future research emphasis according to the situation of L. chinensis germplasm and the market demand. New technologies should be used to speed up the new varieties cultivation and utilization, and promote the process of L. chinensis industrialization and animal husbandry development. © 2016, Science Press. All right reserved.