An experiment has been performed in four locations in Poland (Radzików, Leszno, Szelejewo and Nieznanice).Fifteen genotypes from three species (tall fescue - Festuca arundinacea, meadow fescue - F. pratensisand red rescue - F. rubra) were measured and observed during two consecutive years. Despite of phenologicalobservations (heading and flowering start dates), biometrical measurements (plant height, leaf dimension,number of generative stems etc.) and physiological trait (chlorophyll contents index) seed yield of singlepanicle, seed yield of plant and seed yield per plot (i.e. 50 plants) were determined.Significant effects of years, locations and genotypes were calculated for mentioned species for almost alltested traits. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to estimate major predictors of seed yield. It resultedin different numbers of predictors for different species. For meadow fescue five, for red fescue – three and fortall fescue – only two statistically significant predictors were selected. For all species leaf width and numberof generative stems were statistically significant and had positive weights. For meadow and red fescue – alsoseed yield from single inflorescence was significant with positive weight. Our results demonstrate that leafwidth together with number of steams and single panicle yield are the most important determinants of plantseed yield in three Festuca species.

Drought is the main environmental factor hampering world agriculture production. In the face of warmingclimate and reduced fresh water resources it become obvious that search for any factors decreasing water useis strongly recommended. Turf grasses able to withstand drought period longer could be recommended for turfareas as parks, lawns, home gardens etc. and relatively lower amounts of water should ensure satisfactory turfquality. Therefore, twelve turf varieties from three major cool-season turf grass species: perennial ryegrass(Lolium perenne L.), Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) and red fescue (Festuca rubra L.) were tested inglasshouse pot experiment and in the laboratory for determination of their relative ability to withstand greenlonger in the face of water deficit.The different response of the examined forms to drought was noted. Conditions that favor fast water depletionwere the most suitable for the expression of water deficit-related traits. Therefore, sandy mixture of 16%volumetric moisture content at field water capacity was mostly suitable for observation of the variation oftested forms. Turf condition of Kentucky bluegrass, as contrary to red fescue, was strongly connected with thesoil moisture. Different manifestation of drought resistance was observed in tested species. Kentucky bluegrass,as rather no resistant to drought, exposed low level of drought avoidance. Red fescue was able to survivedrought mainly due to leaf blades resistant to desiccation. In perennial ryegrass some other mechanismsevolved to survive drought. Early leaf wilting and senescence contributes to nutrient remobilization duringdrought and avoids large water loses during the transpiration. Therefore, perennial ryegrass turf was able toregenerate better after drought, as compared to the other tested grass species.Search for new turf forms should focus on searching for ability to maintain acceptable conditions longer ina presence of increasing water deficit. It will then reduce the duration of period of poor turf conditions andfurther, turf water demands.

Prace zostały wykonane w ramach badań podstawowych na rzecz postępu biologicznego w produkcji roślinnej na podstawie decyzji Ministra Rolnictwa i Rozwoju Wsi nr HOR.hn.802.19.2018, Zadanie nr 38. Badanie cech warunkujących zawiązywanie nasion, ich jakość oraz plon w wybranych gatunkach traw wieloletnichThe examination of traits affecting seed formation as well as seed quality and yield in selected perennial grass species Słowa kluczowe: Lolium perenne, Poa pratensis, produktywność generatywna, wiechlina łąkowa, zmienność, życica trwała WSTĘP Cechy decydujące o zdolności reprodukcyjnej traw wieloletnich są ze sobą powiązane i zaburzenie jakiegokolwiek elementu tego złożonego procesu powoduje zachwianie potencjału reprodukcyjnego. Dla właściwej oceny wpływu wielu cech warunkujących efektywność reprodukcji generatywnej traw niezbędne jest określenie ich zmienności, a następnie zidentyfikowanie kierunku oraz siły zależności pomiędzy tymi cechami. Celem zadania w roku 2018 było określenie zróżnicowania wewnątrzi międzyobiektowego badanych form traw wieloletnich w obrębie zestawu cech związanych z plonowaniem generatywnym, jak również wybranych cech fizjologicznych

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