Genetics and Management of Perennial Forage Crops

Dear Colleague,

Perennial grasslands are a global resource. Given their geographical distribution, a huge range of perennial forage species can be found in grasslands. Perennial grassland species need to be adapted to various environmental and biotic factors. Often, grasslands are being grown on challenging soils and locations, marginal lands, which are not suitable for other agricultural uses. Perennial grasslands also have important ecosystems functions by providing species rich habits and contribute positively to soil carbon balance. Grasslands can be improved by management of species suitable to their use and species grown, but can be also improved with breeding better adapted and resistant and higher yielding varieties within species. Several grassland species are yet undomesticated and are being used as ecotypes without further forage improvement. Breeding programmes are lagging behind due the huge range of species to be improved, due to challenging outsets like allogamy and if pollinators are required. Further challenges are also still a lack of genomic resources for several species and suitable grassland management protocols in a changing climate and in a changing use. We are inviting articles on defining traits for forage improvement, including complex genetic traits, forage genetic resources, the development of genomic resources and their application in genome wide association studies and genetic selection, breeding strategies for grassland species, novel and improved forage management strategies and alternative uses of forage species.

Dr. Susanne Barth
Guest Editor

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