VARIETAL COLOR OF LOLIUM-PERENNE L TURFGRASS AND ITS INTERACTION WITHENVIRONMENTAL-CONDITIONS

A field experiment was conducted to examine colour changes in a range of turfgrass varieties and selections of Lolium perenne. Colour was re corded in terms of Hue Angle (H degrees) and b (tonal modification) p arameters, at fourteen monthly intervals and at two contrasting fertil iser regimes. There were significant overall differences between the v arieties for both colour parameters. There were also significant varie ty X fertiliser and variety X time interactions for both parameters. T he interactions were further investigated by linear regression analysi s. The selections were greener overall than the varieties. The higher regression coefficient of the varieties except for 'Aberystwyth S23' i ndicated that they were able to produce high H degrees tinder presumab ly favourable conditions, but tinder less favourable conditions, H deg rees was reduced more than with the selections. 'Aberystwyth S23', des pite having the lowest overall H degrees score maintained this level t inder less favourable conditions as indicated by its low regression co efficient. For b scores, the selections were darker and duller than t he varieties overall and were also able to maintain this colour better tinder the conditions encountered as indicated by the lower regressio n coefficients. The significance of these findings for breeding and se lection programmes, varietal assessment and the end-user are discussed .