Cytogenetics of the Festuca-Lolium Complex

Presented here are modern and classical aspects of

cytogenetics as well as biotechnology in relation to

improvement of the Festuca-Lolium group of grasses. Festuca

and its close relative Lolium are very valuable genera of

temperate agriculture. These fascinating genera contain

some highly productive, nutritious, and well-adapted grasses

widely used for agricultural and recreational purposes world

wide.

The book is organizedinto 15 chapters devoted to taxonomy

and systematics; species evolution and divergence by

increase in chromosome number as well as by change in DNA

content; genetic control of chromosome pairing and its

breeding and phylogenetic implications; B chromosomes,

induced polyploidy and haploidy inrelation to varietal

improvement; wide hybridization, genome relationships, and

plant improvement; genomic balance in relation to hybrid

fertility and hererosis breeding; biotechnology and its

potential applications in plant improvement.

It is of special interest to geneticists, taxonomists,

evolutionists, biotechnologists, and plant breeders.