Variety traits

Tillering in Italian ryegrass

Lolium multiflorum Lam.

The tillering capacity of Italian ryegrass determines its productivity potential by reflecting the number of shoots per plant. This indicator directly correlates with green mass yield, seed productivity, and the ability for rapid regrowth after mowing.

In the reference 6 varieties crop Italian ryegrass, where this is mentioned in the description.

Tillering in Italian ryegrass is evaluated by the number of developing shoots on a single plant. In dense stands, this figure ranges from 3 to 6 shoots, whereas under spaced planting conditions to determine the full tillering potential, the indicator can reach 200–250 shoots.

High shoot formation intensity enables the crop to produce from 3 to 5 cuts per growing season. This trait exhibits high plasticity: under moisture deficiency and drought conditions, tillering significantly decreases, which negatively impacts overall biomass, whereas under favorable factors, it contributes to successful overwintering and increased productivity.

The direct correlation between the number of productive stems and seed yield makes this trait a determining factor when assessing the economic value of a variety. Shoot formation energy ensures rapid recovery of the sward after grazing or mowing, which is a key characteristic of the species.

General information about the subject — on the page Tillering.

Sources8

Varieties of Italian ryegrass mentioned in the description

Selection based on the description text, not on official evaluation: these data are absent from registers. For specific variety details, please refer to its profile.