Springer Sustainable use of Genetic Diversity in Forage and Turf Breeding

Grassland produces feed for livestock, improves soil fertility and structure, protects water resources and may contribute to climate change mitigation through carbon storage and to biodiversity preservation. It simultaneously maintains sustainable economic outputs for farmers and provides ecosystem services. Turf similarly c- siderably contributes to our environment by adding beauty to our surroundings, providing a safe playing surface for sports and recreation. The species diversity present in most grasslands and turfs is a functional div- sity contributing to the previously mentioned agronomic and environmental bene?ts. The species belong to different functional groups and the adequate species com- sition may maximise the agronomic performance through a higher production and a better quality and the environmental bene?ts through symbiotic nitrogen ?xation or sources of pollen and nectar to pollinators. In a given grassland or turf, the genetic diversity available in each variety contributes to this economic and environmental performance, but also to the stability of these performances including the stability of the resistance against pathogens and pests. Natural grasslands share many species with the sown swards. They may be regarded as favourable sites for in situ preservation of genetic diversity as well as valuable sources of diversity for breeding. Review From the reviews: “This book contains reviews and reports of genetic diversity in forage and turf presented at the 28th Conference of the EUCARPIA Fodder Crops and Amenity Grasses Section, held in La Rochelle, France in 2009. … This book is a comprehensive source of information that suggests directions for future breeding of forage and turf. It is also a useful text book for students studying genetics, physiology and agronomy of forage and turf species.” (Sachiko Isobe, Annals of Botany, Vol. 111 (1), January, 2013) From the Back Cover This book is a collection of papers presented at the 2009 meeting of the Fodder Crops and Amenity grasses section of Eucarpia. It provides a unique source of information on the most recent results on genetic diversity and breeding in forage crops and turf species from Europe and overseas. It is organised in five sections. The first section is devoted to genetic resources which are the source of diversity for breeding but also a source of information for a better preservation of diversity through biogeography approaches. The second section focuses on changes which may occur in grassland and turf swards. These swards are plant communities which are likely to experience species and genetic changes. Population genetics provides keys to understand these changes in order to take them into account during breeding and sward management. The third section documents the genetic gains achieved during breeding while the fourth one gives a detailed presentation of the results and potential of molecular biology to better use the genetic diversity. Eventually, the fifth section investigates the potential of new structures of varieties either exploiting the heterosis or the interspecific hybridization.