The use of electrophoretic techniques to distinguish perennial ryegrass cultivars when sown in mixtures

Abstract

SummaryIn research into competition between individual cultivars of one perennial grass species sown in mixtures, fixed matrix designs have been widely used because of difficulties in identifying the components inanatural sward.Extrapolation of results from such fixed designs to the sward situation is often difficult in any but the short-term context.This paper describes the principles, requirements and use of an electrophoretic technique together with a mathematical concept which can be used to distinguish certain perennial ryegrass cultivars when sown in mixtures. Such methods have useful implications for the study of sward composition and competitive ability of ryegrass cultivars sown in mixtures. The number of samples required to study selected 2-way cultivar mixtures using this method is indicated.