Genetic variation and heritability of agronomic traits in a native perennial forage species from drylands: breeding potential of Festuca pallescens.

ABSTRACT: Festuca pallescens is a native forage grass species of Patagonia, playing a crucial role in supporting sheep production in arid and semi-arid ecosystems. This study assessed genetic differentiation among populations and estimated the heritability of traits linked to biomass production and phenological development as part of its domestication effort. A common garden trial was established with ten half-sib families from four preselected populations, and phenological and morphological traits were measured over three seasons. Trait correlations were analyzed, and a mixed model approach was employed to estimate Wright's Q_ST and narrow-sense heritability. Q_ST estimates ranged from 0.18 to 0.47 for phenological traits and from 0.086 to 0.093 for morphological traits; heritab

SUBMITTER: Guidalevich V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11865277 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature