Plant breeding for improved production in annual ryegrass

Annual ryegrass(Lolium multiflorum Lam.) is a highly productive and high quality cool season forage grown primarily in the southern USA. The annual acreage planted to pastures has increased during the years due to plant breeding improvements such as improved forage and seed yields, increased crown rust resistance(Puccinia coronata Pers. Cda.) and significant gains in winter hardiness. Investment in ryegrass breeding and cultivar development in the southern USA has been minimal, never-the-less advances in the sciences and art of plant breeding have contributed significantly to improvement in the species. Improved cultivars have expanded the ryegrass areas of use northward and west ward into Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Tennessee, while at the same time greatly reducing the risk of freeze injury.