A study of leaf strength in four ryegrass varieties

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Abstract
The leaf strenghts of perennial ryegrass ( Lolium perenne L.), Italian rye grass ( Lolium multiflorum Lam.), short‐rotation ryegrass ( Lolium perenne × Lolium multiflorum ), and Ariki ryegrass ( Lolium perenne × ( Lolium perenne × Lolium multiflorum )) collected from sheep pastures at different times of the year, were compared. The proportions of sclcrenchyma wall and the cellulose contents of other samples taken from the same pastures were also compared. The leaf strength of perennial ryegrass was greater than that of Ariki, which was greater than that of short‐rotation or Italian ryegrasses. The latter two varieties did not differ in leaf strength. There were differences in mean leaf strength between sampling dates, and a lower mean strength in the winter months. The inter‐varietal correlations between strength and cellulose and between strength and the proportion of sclerenchyma wall showed that the varieties with high leaf strength had high cellulose contents and sclerenchyma wall percentages. These results were consistent with the animal weight gains recorded on the same trial by Rae, Brougham, and Barton (1964). The technique should be useful for screening pasture plants for nutritive quality in a breeding programme.

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