Dallis grass seed sources

1. Twenty-four strains or seed sources of Dallis grass coming from South Africa, Uruguay, Australia, and the principal seed producing areas in the United States were compared in a spaced plant test at Tifton, Ga. Ten of them were also evaluated in a clipped plot test. Statistically significant strain differences in forage yield, anthracnose resistance, self fertility under bag, heading date, ergot resistance, and longevity were observed. 2. The 24 strains fell into three distinct plant types. Nineteen, so similar they could not be separated one from another, made up the common Dallis grass group. D-1 and D-2, components of the leafy group, differed from the common Dallis group by being much more resistant to anthracnose and by producing more leaves, fewer and more erect seed stalks, and somewhat smaller panicles. The yellow-anthered type, in addition to having yellow instead of purple anthers, was more erect, less leafy, and developed 1arger, more pubescent florets than the other two types. 3. Mixtures of common and yellow-anthered types occurred in two introductions. All plants within any one of the other 22 strains were remarkably uniform in plant type. 4. Small but significant differences in ergot resistance occurred between different strains of common Dallis grass. The yellow-anthered strains from Uruguay were much more resistant to ergot than any of the other strains tested. 5. Anthracnose resistance indices were very closely correlated with longevity and stand variations, indicating that anthracnose-resistant strains will tend to live longer and maintain better stands than strains susceptible to this disease. 6. Evidence is presented to indicate that a spaced plant Dallis grass strain test will give ratings on anthracnose resistance, fall growth, longevity, and yield which may be expected to apply reasonably well when the strains in question are compared in a clipped plot test.