“…Studies of phenotypic and molecular diversity in relation to hybrid performance have been undertaken in several forage grasses. Investigations in timothy, perennial ryegrass and tall fescue have shown that the genetic diversity of parents captured by molecular markers, was significantly correlated with hybrid performance (Amini, Mirlohi, & Majidi, 2016;Amini, Mirlohi, Majidi, Shojaieefar, & Kollilker, 2011;Ghesquiere, Muylle, & Baert, 2013;Kolliker, Boller, & Widmer, 2005;Liu, 2015;Tanaka et al, 2015;Tanaka, Tamaki, Ashikaga, Fujii, & Yamada, 2013).…”