Caribu and Tigris – new italian raygrass varieties

With the recent registration of the new diploid varieties Caribu and Trigris, bred at the Research Station Agroscope Reckenholz-Tänikon ART, further progress in the genetic improvement of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum ssp. italicum Volkart ex Schinz et Keller) has been achieved. Caribu and Tigris are the result of targeted breeding efforts, aiming at improving the resistance against crown rust of a highly performing, but susceptible ecotype material which previously had given rise to the variety Oryx. Both new varieties exhibit the same very rapid development in spring as Oryx and make a high yield in the first cut possible when taken early in the season. The resistance against crown rust is strongly improved compared with Oryx, particularly for Caribu. Caribu also persists more securely for two full main harvest years than does Oryx. The results show the great potential for success of a breeding strategy involving pair crosses between vigorously growing, but disease susceptible ecotype plants and highly disease resistant plants from well-established breeding material.