Seed Yield, Development, and Variation in Diverse Poa pratensis Accessions

• Published in: Crop science 2010-01, Vol.50 (1), p.337-344
• Main Authors: Johnson, R.C, Johnston, W.J, Bertoli, F.B, Golob, C.T
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; crop residues; Crop science; Crop yield; cultivars; filling period; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; genetic variation; Grasses; Harvesting; inflorescences; lawns and turf; phenology; plant development; Plant reproduction; Poa pratensis; prescribed burning; processing residues; seed crop production; seed productivity; seed weight; Seeds; spatial distribution; Turf; turf grasses; yield components
• ISSN: 0011-183X; 1435-0653
• DOI: 10.2135/cropsci2009.01.0040

Post-harvest residue removal is critical for high seed production of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.). Previous work showed some accessions have little yield reduction with mechanical removal of post-harvest residue compared with the controversial practice of open-field burning. Using 10 of these accessions, our objectives were (i) to relate seed yield and yield components in spaced plants to yield in row-seeded plots, (ii) to link yield to growth and development factors, and (iii) to determine variation for seed production factors among accessions. Seed yield, seeds per panicle, panicle number, weight per seed, heading, anthesis, and harvest dates showed strong accession differences on spaced plants in 2002 and 2003. Yields in row-seeded plots from 1998 and 1999 data were consistently correlated with yield per plant per area in spaced plants in 2002 (r = 0.75, P < 0.05) and 2003 (r = 0.90, P < 0.01). Turf quality was negatively correlated with yield per plant per area in 2002 and 2003 but was not consistently correlated with yield components. Days from heading to anthesis consistently correlated with yield per plant per area in 2002 (r = 0.81, P < 0.01) and 2003 (r = 0.85, P < 0.01). Variation for seed yield and yield components was observed within accessions both years and differed among accessions. The results show that seed yield per plant per area in spaced plants may be a useful predictor of yield in field stands and that a long heading to anthesis period promotes seeds per panicle and seed yield.