Agromorphological diversity in North Spanish Agrostis capillaris

Abstract

Fourteen Agrostis capillaris L. accessions collected from northern Spain were characterised in a low-fertilisation regime at Carreño (43º 35' N, 5º 47' W, 80 m.a.s.l.) in Asturias during two years (2004 and 2005) in a randomised complete block design with two replicates of 15 plants per accession. One commercial cultivar (Agrostis capillaris cv 'Golfin') was also included in this study. The entries included accessions and cultivar were evaluated for agronomical and turfgrass quality characteristics each year. The collected data was reduced to four principle components that cumulatively explained 82.6% of the total variance. Cluster analysis was useful in identifying four groups of accessions describing 57% of the phenotypic variation among accessions. Cluster 1 consisted of seven accessions with an intermediate growth habit, late heading and with the narrowest flag leaf and shortest upper internodes. Cluster 2 contained three accessions with the latest heading, the most erect growth habit, darkest green colour as accessions of cluster 3. Cluster 3 contained the two earliest heading accessions and the widest flag leaf and longest upper internodes. Cluster 4 consisted of two accessions and the cultivar 'Golfin' lightest green colour and intermediate characters among the other clusters.