Official testing of xFestulolium braunii varieties

From 2004 until 2006 the value of cultivation and use of five varieties of ´Festulolium braunii (K. Richter) A. Camus was tested by the federal research stations Agroscope Reckenholz-Tänikon ART and Agroscope Changins-Wädenswil ACW at six experimental sites. An index value based on scores and measurements of yield, juvenile development, general impression, competitive ability, resistance against leaf diseases and bacterial wilt, winter hardiness, persistence adaptation to higher altitudes and digestible organic matter was used for evaluation of the varieties. The index value allowed for a comparison of the candidate varieties with recommended varieties of hybrid ryegrass (Lolium ´ hybridum Hausskn.) and meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis Hudson), sown in the same experiment. In general all tested varieties of ´Festulolium braunii did not meet the expectations. None of the varieties could attain the level of meadow fescue and hybrid ryegrass, respectively. One of the main reasons for these results was the weak resistance of the ´Festulolium varieties against bacterial wilt. Therefore none of the tested varieties could be recommended.