Studies on genetic variation in reed canarygrass, Phalaris arundinacea L. I. Alkaloid type and concentration

Abstract

Østrem, L. 1987. Studies on genetic variation in reed canarygrass, Phalaris arundinacea L.I. Alkaloid type and concentration. —Hereditas 707:235–248. Lund, Sweden. ISSN 0018–0661. Received February 6, 1987 Two experiments concerning alkaloid type and concentration in reed canarygrass, Phalaris arundinacea L. have been carried out at Fureneset Research Station in Western Norway. The plant material originated from Western Norway, the Soviet Union, and North America. Experiment 1 included 100 groups from 32 populations, which were analyzed for alkaloid type and partly also for alkaloid concentration. Experiment 2 comprised ten selected groups from exp. 1. All genotypes in this experiment were of the gramine‐type with an alkaloid concentration mean of 0.0775 % of the dry weight, ranging from 0.0006 to 0.7277. Heritability estimates ranged from 0.19 to 0.70. The majority of the populations studied were gramine genotypes, and considerable variation was found as to alkaloid concentration in all populations. The heritability was sufficiently high to expect response to selection. Production of a reed canarygrass variety free of tryptamines and carbolines and low in total amount of indole alkaloids appears worthwhile and feasible with the present plant material. Copyright © 1987, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved