Abstract:

A total of 43 materials of  tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) and red fescue (Festuca rubra L.) were examined at experimental fields of Aegean Agricultural Research Institute (AARI) in the years of 2002 and 2004 in order to determine adaptation of species, populations and  high yielding cultivars adapting to Aegean region. Populations were sown in multipods in 2001 and transferred to field with 1x1 m spacing in the spring of 2002. Characteristics observed were tillering, spring growth rate, time of 50 % inflorescence, abundance of inflorence, vegetative growth habit at inflorence, plant height, growth rate after cutting, dry matter yield and seed yield. Significant differences were observed between populations in terms of characters investigated. Dry matter yield was higher in tall fescue. There were significant differences between the populations in terms of spring growth. Tall fescue populations had higher spring growth rates. Flowering time of 50 % inflorescence of species and populations varied from early to late. In general, populations of red fescue had early 50% inflorescence time and also higher potential for abundance of inflorence. Significant differences were also found between populations in terms of their growth rate after cutting. Tall fescue populations showed higher growth potential. It was found that tall fescue and red fescue could be used with various purposes at Aegean Region.

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