Development of Quattro-TK5, a New, Snow-Endurant, Early-Heading Italian Ryegrass Cultivar

Abstract

Quattro-TK5 is a new, snow-endurant, early-heading cultivar developed for double-crop cultivation in locations with 80 days of snow cover. Areas with 100 days of snow cover are unsuitable for Quattro-TK5 cultivation. This study investigated the yield and map cultivation area of Quattro-TK5 in nine locations in Japan. This strain showed better snow endurance and headed three days earlier than Waseaoba, which previously had the best snow endurance among early-heading cultivars in Japan. In locations with prolonged snow cover, the dry matter yield of the first cut of Quattro-TK5 at the heading stage was superior to that of Waseaoba. In areas of short snow cover, the dry matter yield of the first cut of Quattro-TK5 at the heading stage was equal to that of Waseaoba.