Breeding 'GA 143' perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) -: a population with branched inflorescences

A population of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) was bred whose inflorescences show a high degree of branching in individual heads, which contrasts with the unbranched spikes normal in this species. The population was bred by mass selection over 8 years, starting with 10 plants collected from grazing sites at Palmerston North that showed a very slight degree of branching. The final selection shows variation between plants in the shape of the inflorescences, ranging from rigid, tightly compacted heads to drooping, sparsely branched heads. However, virtually all plants in the population show some degree of branching in individual heads. The total number of spikelets on a head is similar to that of tall fescue and considerably greater than that of current ryegrass populations.