XVI International Botanical Congess

Variation in nuclear DNA content was examined between 16 cultivars of Lolium perenne. Nuclei samples of leaf section stained with DAPI were analyzed by flow cytometer (Partec PA). Variation in nuclear DNA content was evaluated at intra-genotype (error), intra-population and inter-population levels. The mean square between the populations was significantly larger than that of the intra-population and of the error. Furthermore, the cultivars utilized for herbage had significantly larger DNA content than those for turf. The results suggest that the differences in genome size reflects phenotypic differences among the cultivars. Correlations between nuclear DNA content and morphological and physiological traits were examined.