Relationship of morphological traits and seed yield of plain rough fescue grass (Festuca hallii (Vasey) Piper) with different origins

Non-Peer ReviewedSeed production in plains rough fescue (Festuca hallii (Vasey) Piper) is infrequent and unpredictable. The objective of this study was to compare seed yield of plain rough fescue collections and to determine correlation between phenotypic characteristics and seed yield. In 2006, a field nursery was established from 11 collections of plain rough fescue grass at the Semiarid Prairie Agricultural Research Centre near Swift Current (50°25' N, 107°44' W), Canada. Plot design was a randomized complete block design with three replications. Six phenotypic variables were measured in summer 2010. Seed yield varied among collection sites. Plant vigour rating (r=0.29, P<0.01) and number of reproductive tiller (r=0.47, P<0.01) were positively correlated to individual plant seed yield, while reproductive tiller height (r=-0.47, P<0.01) and crown width (r=0.62, P