Genetic Variation of Growth Traits and Seed Production in a Patagonian Native Pasture in Semiarid Rangelands Under Different Environmental Settings

Rangelands play a crucial socioeconomic and environmental role worldwide. In South America, desertification and overgrazing has led to their deterioration and declining productivity. Breeding programs that use native forage species of economic and ecological importance, such as <i>Festuca pallescens</i> (St. Yves) Parodi, may provide locally adapted germplasm that enhances productivity without threatening local biodiversity. These programs may even promote the conservation of native species. To this end, we characterized the phenotypic variation of nondestructive variables (growth and reproductive traits) related to forage and seed production during spring and early summer (growth and reproductive periods). Plants from ten populations were grown under common garden conditions in two environmental settings (sites) over two years. By early summer of the second year, most populations maintained a consistent relative performance with higher values for basal diameter, height and synflorescence production at site 2. This suggests more favorable environmental conditions for the species and highlights their potential for enhancing both seed and forage production. The growth and reproductive traits were probably largely influenced by micro-environmental cues (i.e., soil type and moisture), showing predominantly plastic patterns. The populations displaying phenotypic plasticity and above-average values for both traits were selected for further evaluation in breeding programs.