Ryegrass in pastures – breeding for resilience

The suggestion that modern pasture cultivars persist less well than their predecessors is not supported by facts. However in some regions there is a crisis in farmer experience of persistence of ryegrass pastures, and ryegrass breeding can contribute to a resolution. This paper considers the turnover of tillers in a pasture, the population structure of a grass sward and the involvement of endophyte and companion clover. Knowledge gaps in key processes of pasture persistence are discussed. The plant breeding process involves access to relevant genetic variation, its assessment, and creation of improved populations and eventually cultivars based on selected superior plants. All these scientific processes use ever-evolving techniques. Breeding objectives evolve with industry needs and the changing environment. The methods employed in the breeding phases, the breeding objectives and the final evaluation of cultivars require ongoing revision. Plant breeding will make a growing contribution to modern farming if its developing capabilities are interfaced with other research disciplines providing critical information on key pasture processes.