The main target of the breeding is to create a continuous output of high performing and competitive varieties for the national and international markets. Euro Grass Breeding aims at generating maximum results with minimum costs in a sustainable way by using traditional as well as modern breeding and selection methods.

Research and Development

In plant breeding, research and variety development comprise numerous trials, tests and analyses in laboratories, greenhouses and trial fields. EuroGrass Breeding aims at breeding and selecting varieties with an optimal composition of characteristics demanded by the customers. The varieties are derived from a genetically broadgermplasm developed of a wide range of genetic resources. Besides the creation of new genetic variation as a key factor, success in plant breeding needs a sound scientific base. Therefore the qualification and training of staff as well as the close co-operation with several European research institutions is very important for Euro Grass Breeding. Joint research projects are assisting the development of new techniques for variety selection. Rapidprogress in tissue culture and molecular biology has led to a considerable extension in the range of breeding methods. New techniques are practised in the biotechnology laboratory und used to improve daily breeding, selection and maintenance work programmes thus essentially supporting long-termprogress in breeding and variety output.

Breeding

Extensive breeding and testing is carried out in the most important forage grass and turf grass species as well as in small seeded forage legumes. The main species are Perennial ryegrass, Italian and Annual ryegrass, Timothy, Meadow fescue, Cocksfoot, Kentucky bluegrass, Red fescue and different clover species.

Forage grass breeding

The Euro Grass forage grass breeders focus on varieties at the top level of dry matter yield, persistence, disease resistance, winter hardiness, swarddensity, spring or autumn growth and drought tolerance. In the future, forage quality will become a further focus to improve forage value of grasses significantly. Increasing attention will be given to the effectiveness of the use of nitrogen.

Turf grass breeding

Euro Grass turf grass varieties have been selected to match different purposes – ornamental lawns, sports turf, landscaping, roadsides, slopes and dykes. Besides dense dark swards, pleasing to the eye and hard wearing all the year round, gooddisease and drought resistance as well as low maintenance requirements are important breeding objectives of Euro Grass amenity grass breeding.

All these breeding objectives can only be reachedby using a wide breeding and testing network,where new varieties and variety candidates are bred and tested under very different climatic conditions and use.