Morphological Characteristic to Discriminate \u3cem\u3eFestulolium\u3c/em\u3e Hybrids (\u3cem\u3eFestuca Pratensis\u3c/em\u3e × \u3cem\u3eLolium Perenne\u3c/em\u3e)

Environmental change and uncertainty is likely to pose new challenges in plant breeders. Recently attention has focused on the crossing of Lolium and Festuca species to obtain hybrids exhibiting many desirable traits of both parents. Key objectives of such programs are to combine the persistency, winter hardiness and drought tolerance of fescues with the high herbage yields and quality of ryegrasses (Zwierzykowski, Naganowska, 1994). One of the hybrids with great practical significance is a F. pratensis × L. perenne hybrid [Festulolium loliaceum (Huds.) P.V. Fourn]. Many morphological traits of Festulolium hybrids demonstrate intermediate character, however, in relation to inflorescence type they are similar to L. perenne; the hybrids and perennial ryegrass have spike-like inflorescences, though they may be rarely a little-branched. Occurrence of a reduced inner glume in hybrid spikelets is a trait, which enables discrimination between Festulolium and L. perenne plants. The aim of this work was to analyse the morphological trait of inflorescences to aid the identification of the hybrids Festulolium in relation to L. perenne