Variety traits
Lolium perenne L.
The winter hardiness of perennial ryegrass is limited by the shallow depth of the tillering node and susceptibility to temperatures below -20 °C in the absence of snow cover. The crop's low adaptability to severe winters leads to stand thinning and reduced longevity of the sward.
In the reference 120 varieties crop Perennial ryegrass, where this is mentioned in the description.
A critical factor in the winterkilling of perennial ryegrass is the location of the tillering node at a depth of only 8–13 mm from the soil surface, a depth which tends to decrease as the stand matures. The crop does not tolerate snowless winters or late spring frosts well, which can lead to mass plant loss in unfavorable conditions as early as the first year of growth.
In breeding and variety testing, winter hardiness is assessed visually on a 5-point scale before winter dormancy and after spring regrowth. Additionally, instrumental methods are used, such as counting shoot density per unit area after wintering or laboratory freezing of plants in chambers followed by an assessment of the percentage of surviving shoots 14 days after thawing.
Due to its lower winter hardiness compared to other forage grasses, such as fescue, perennial ryegrass is often used in grass mixtures in limited proportions (no more than 25–30%) to prevent total loss of cover in the event of plant death. Its tendency to winterkill must be taken into account when planning the longevity of pastures and turf covers.
General information about the subject — on the page Winter hardiness.
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.
Lolium perenne L. · Perennial ryegrass
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey and Pickseed West, Inc.
Lolium perenne L. · Perennial ryegrass
ILVO-PLANT 39
Lolium perenne L. · Perennial ryegrass
DUMON AGRO
Lolium perenne L. · Perennial ryegrass
Norddeutsche Pflanzenzucht Hans-Georg Lembke KG. Herrn Dr. Martin Frauen / Gisela Luebbe
Lolium perenne L. · Perennial ryegrass
Theodorus P.M. op den Kamp
Lolium perenne L. · Perennial ryegrass
Klaus K. Nielsen
Lolium perenne L. · Perennial ryegrass
W A MEYER
Lolium perenne L. · Perennial ryegrass
DLF-Trifolium A/S
Lolium perenne L. · Perennial ryegrass
Mommersteeg International BV (NL)
Lolium perenne L. · Perennial ryegrass
Zelder BV (NL)
Lolium perenne L. · Perennial ryegrass
BARENBRUG HOLLAND
Lolium perenne L. · Perennial ryegrass
DLF-Seeds A/S
Lolium perenne L. · Perennial ryegrass
Mommersteeg International BV (NL)
Lolium perenne L. · Perennial ryegrass
DLF-Seeds A/S
Lolium perenne L. · Perennial ryegrass
DLF-Seeds A/S
Lolium perenne L. · Perennial ryegrass
Zwaan&De Wiljes' Zaadt en Zaadh B.V.
Lolium perenne L. · Perennial ryegrass
Theodorus P.M. op den Kamp
Lolium perenne L. · Perennial ryegrass
WOLTERS LUKAS / STELLING DIETER
Lolium perenne L. · Perennial ryegrass
Veronique Mercier
Lolium perenne L. · Perennial ryegrass
Zelder BV (NL)
Lolium perenne L. · Perennial ryegrass
DLF-Seeds A/S
Lolium perenne L. · Perennial ryegrass
BARENBRUG HOLLAND
Lolium perenne L. · Perennial ryegrass
Freudenberger, D
Lolium perenne L. · Perennial ryegrass
DLF-Seeds A/S