Abstract

The selection of resilient cultivars could help stem the losses in forage production due to a changing climate. Secale strictum is a wild grass with interesting potential as a forage crop. We studied the germination requirements of six wild S. strictum populations, representative of the whole species distribution range in Italy and occurring under different osmotic conditions (0 MPa, −0.8 MPa, −1.0 MPa, −1.2 MPa, −1.4 MPa and −1.6 MPa). Our aim was to find beneficial seed and germination traits for the possible use of this species as a crop. Different accessions of domesticated Secale cereale and ×Triticosecale were used as comparison. Some populations of S. strictum were drought tolerant at germination level (final germination > 25% at −1.6 MPa). A great variability was observed among wild populations in traits that currently limit the cultivation of the species as a forage crop (seed size, germinability) and that could improve its usage, especially in arid areas (water stress tolerance, fast germination). A correlation exists between the germination rates of wild populations and the seasonality of the rainfall at their natural growing sites. These results underline the importance of choosing appropriate source lineages when selecting S. strictum populations for crop development.

摘要

选择有弹性的品种可以帮助阻止由于气候变化导致的草料生产损失。Secale strictum是一种具有作为饲料作物的有趣潜力的野草。我们研究了六个野生S. strictum种群的发芽要求，它们代表了意大利的整个物种分布范围，并且发生在不同的渗透条件（0 MPa、-0.8 MPa、-1.0 MPa、-1.2 MPa、-1.4 MPa 和 -1.6兆帕）。我们的目标是找到可能将该物种用作作物的有益种子和发芽特征。将驯化的黑麦和× Triticosecale的不同种质用作比较。一些S. strictum种群在发芽水平上具有耐旱性（最终发芽率 > 25% 在-1.6 MPa）。在目前限制该物种作为饲料作物栽培的性状（种子大小、发芽能力）和可以改善其使用，特别是在干旱地区（耐水胁迫、快速发芽）的性状中，在野生种群中观察到了很大的变异性。野生种群的发芽率与其自然生长地点降雨的季节性之间存在相关性。这些结果强调了在选择S. strictum种群进行作物开发时选择适当来源谱系的重要性。