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Variety traits

Winter hardiness — perennial ryegrass

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.

Sources8

Varieties of Perennial 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.

Artonis

Active

Lolium perenne L. · Perennial ryegrass

Agroscope Reckenholz

AT DE LU
7 records

Diligent

Active

Lolium perenne L. · Perennial ryegrass

DLF SEEDS A/S

CZ
5 records

Aventino

Terminated

Lolium perenne L. · Perennial ryegrass

Euro Grass Breeding GmbH Co. KG

DE FR NL
9 records

Limbos

Terminated

Lolium perenne L. · Perennial ryegrass

Lukas H. Wolters c/o Euro Grass BV

DE FR
8 records

Neptun

Protection expired

Lolium perenne L. · Perennial ryegrass

DLF-Trifolium A/S

AT DE PL
5 records

Envy

Protection expired

Lolium perenne L. · Perennial ryegrass

PURE SEED TESTING

FR
6 records

Arnando

Active

Lolium perenne L. · Perennial ryegrass

DSV Zaden Nederland B.V.

DE NL
7 records

Saqui

Active

Lolium perenne L. · Perennial ryegrass

DLF Seeds A/S

DK PL
7 records

Barmaco

Terminated

Lolium perenne L. · Perennial ryegrass

BARENBRUG HOLLAND

DE NL
7 records

Rivaldo

Active

Lolium perenne L. · Perennial ryegrass

Euro Grass Breeding GmbH Co. KG

DE NL
9 records

Maja

Active

Lolium perenne L. · Perennial ryegrass

Poznanska Hodowla Roslin Sp. z o.o

HR IT PL
5 records

Cliff

Active

Lolium perenne L. · Perennial ryegrass

RAGT 2N S.A.S

DE NL
7 records

Lolium perenne L. · Perennial ryegrass

BARENBRUG HOLLAND

CZ NL
6 records

Casare

Active

Lolium perenne L. · Perennial ryegrass

SEMENCES DE FRANCE

DE FR NL
7 records

Figgjo

Active

Lolium perenne L. · Perennial ryegrass

Landbruks- og matdepartementet, N - 0030 Oslo

FI SE
7 records

Logique

Active

Lolium perenne L. · Perennial ryegrass

Limagrain Verneuil Holding (FR)

DE FR
7 records

Dorna

Terminated

Lolium perenne L. · Perennial ryegrass

DLF SEEDS A/S

FR NL
5 records

Mumbai

Active

Lolium perenne L. · Perennial ryegrass

DLF Seeds A/S

DK NL
7 records

Norlea

Protection expired

Lolium perenne L. · Perennial ryegrass

Oseco Inc., Bramton, Ontario, L6V 1A1

FI
6 records

Kendal

Active

Lolium perenne L. · Perennial ryegrass

RAGT 2N S.A.S

DE FR
8 records

Candore

Active

Lolium perenne L. · Perennial ryegrass

INAKTIV SA Carneau Frères Eurogazon

DE FR NL
7 records

Lolium perenne L. · Perennial ryegrass

RAGT SA (FR)

DE FR
8 records

Moronda

Protection expired

Lolium perenne L. · Perennial ryegrass

MOMMERSTEEG INTERNATIONAL

DE NL
7 records

Pomposo

Active

Lolium perenne L. · Perennial ryegrass

Zelder Holland(NL)

NL SI
7 records