Isozyme and quantitative traits polymorphisms in European provenances of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L)

Twenty populations of Lolium perenne originating from a range of habitats in Europe were compared for isoenzyme polymorphisms and agronomically important quantitative traits in order to establish relationships of the levels of diversity with the origin of each population and to assess their suitability to be included in the European core collection of Lolium germplasm. Forty genotypes from each of the twenty populations and each genotype represented by three clonal propagules, were field planted in a fully randomized spaced plant design and fifteen quantitative characters including yield, persistency, reproductive and disease resistence characters were evaluated over a period of two years. Seven putative isozyme loci were assayed to compare the allozyme divergence of populations. The results of the isozyme survey indicate that 71–100% of the loci were polymorphic, 2.3–3.0 alleles/locus and the gene diversity was varying from 0.234–0.410. Of the total allelic diversity 94% remained within populations (H_s) whilst only 6% was distributed among populations (D_st). The differences between populations were determined on the basis of allele frequencies and multivariate analyses of quantitative characters. Populations significantly differed in their allele frequencies at all loci analysed. Random mating was predominant in all populations at most of the loci. The study revealed that the German accession BA 10998 was clearly distinct from the rest both in quantitative characters and allele frequencies. German accession BA 11015 with the lowest gene diversity showed the highest genetic variation for quantitative characters. However, no strict relationship was found between the genetic distance and the geograpical distribution of the populations. Among the quantitative characters, flowering time showed a strong relationship with the type of management practised at the collection site than their place of origin. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.