Eight decades of pasture plant improvement in South Africa.

Abstract

Pasture plant improvement in South Africa is reviewed. Before 1910 only introduction and evaluation took place but shortly after 1910 selections were made from tall fescue introductions. Early breeding programmes were established at Prinshof, Potchefstroom, Grahamstown and later Rietondale.Significant progress was made only after a concerted effort at Cedara since 1965 which resulted in the release of Midmar Italian Ryegrass and Karkloof Cocksfoot.Legume breeding was only initiated at Cedara during 1976 and rapid progress has been made towards the development of Dusi white clover, a deep rooted aluminium tolerant clover adapted to dryland conditions.

Keywords:breeding programme; Breeding programmes; dactylis glomerata; dryland; Dusi white clover; fescue; grahamstown; historical review; Historical reviews; italian ryegrass; Karkloof Cocksfoot; legume; Legume breeding; lolium multiflorum; Midmar Italian Ryegrass; paspalum dilatum; pasture; Pasture plant improvements; Pasture plants; potchefstroom; rietondale; ryegrass; south africa; tall fescue; trifolium repens; white clover

Journal of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa.