Response to Divergent Selection for Anthesis Date in Tall Fescue

Date of anthesis is the major factor controlling the seasonal distribution of forage yield and quality in tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.). The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the response to divergent selection for anthesis date in three cultivars of tall fescue that differ for date of anthesis. Three cultivars, Fawn, Alta, and Kentucky 31, were evaluated for date of anthesis in the field from 1981 to 1983. There was a strong juvenile requirement for some genotypes within each cultivar; however, this tended to be more of a problem with the earlier-maturing cultivars, Fawn and Alta. Correlations of establishment year data (1981) with mature plant data (1982 and 1983) were low; consequently, establishement year data were not utilized in selecting for anthesis date