Genetic Improvement of Forage Crops

New sativa forage oats, selected locally for minimal reproductive induction in February sowing, are able to fill the forage gap in late summer and early fall, providing quality forage in winter, and ensuring maximum resistance to leaf rust and leaf spot. Grazing oats combine these attributes with a small grain size, and their low thousand-seed weight allows for low seeding density and the lowest market cost for sowing green crops. Triple-purpose oats, on the other hand, have a large grain size and excellent cane quality with minimal risk of lodging, allowing for the creation of a whole-plant silo reserve by incorporating grain into the reserve, or we can allocate the crop to the dry grain harvest, which can then be used as a supplement. FRONTEIRA is our first grazing oat, originating in Brazil. It is characterized by superior resistance to leaf rust, excellent adaptation to very early sowing, high forage production, and consistent regrowth that allows for multiple grazing operations. Ultra-early grain oats have positioned themselves as an attractive option for intensive systems seeking to include a short-cycle winter crop that can be used as whole-plant silage or for dry grain harvesting for supplementation. URS ALTANERA is our new ultra-early grain oat for autumn sowing and whole-plant or dry grain harvesting in spring. It is particularly notable for its good resistance to leaf rust and excellent cane quality, reducing the likelihood of lodging.

Ryegrass, with its two ploidy levels and flowering cycle range, is the winter greening crop par excellence. The variety adapts to the needs of the production system and the sequence of annual grain or forage crops or perennial pastures in which it is planted to provide quality forage from fall to spring. At Pasture Genetics, we are implementing several breeding programs that will allow us to offer the most complete ryegrass portfolio on the market. The offering will include new and improved varieties in four existing concepts and four very interesting new concepts that will be introduced in the coming years. PG CHIEF and PG COMMANDER are our first two ryegrass varieties. PG CHIEF is a new tetraploid annual ryegrass variety with a medium cycle, an intermediate habit, very high winter and total production, and outstanding resistance to leaf rust. This variety is generated as a result of several selection cycles on the most recognized local varieties. PG COMMANDER is a third-generation tetraploid Italian ryegrass, a leader in total forage production. It is derived from long-cycle varieties of New Zealand origin, improving leaf rust resistance and further boosting total forage production, while maintaining the outstanding winter production, very high tillering, high leaf density, and extremely long cycle that allows for the entire spring harvest.

Our breeding programs pursue the major goal of generating the different types or models of continental fescue currently used in our production systems, as well as some cutting-edge options that will break some paradigms regarding combining high production, high persistence, and high forage quality. PG PRINCESS is our new fescue variety with limited, concentrated, and late reproductive induction, outstanding winter and total production, very high tillering, and maximum forage quality as a result of combining a long cycle, high density of fine leaves, and superior health. PG RÚSTICA is our new variety of rhizomatous fescue, with a prostrate to semi-prostrate habit and very persistent, for extreme environments and systems or situations where we prioritize the ability to persist, a carpet structure that provides maximum cover, and the ability to compete with weeds.

Dactylis is clearly the second most popular temperate perennial forage grass, and its use in Uruguayan production systems is growing because producers appreciate its excellent persistence, outstanding production of quality forage, and ease of spring management due to the scarce or nonexistent presence of flowering canes and their palatability. Dactylis has become the preferred perennial grass for mixtures with alfalfa. Both species achieve significant levels of persistence when sown in well-drained soils, with no risk of waterlogging. Pasture Genetics will soon have two varieties with contrasting characteristics to meet the needs of producers who wish to include this species in their production systems.

Chicory is a highly valuable forage species, particularly for production systems that require quality forage in midsummer and do not include alfalfa due to soil characteristics or aversion to the risk of weathering. Chicory is a perennial species characterized by a strong root system with a deep, taproot capable of breaking through compaction and extracting moisture from depths not reached by other species. We can use chicory in pure pastures or in mixtures with legumes and grasses that allow midsummer grazing. PG HAKA is our new modern chicory, with large, tender leaves, very leafy and uniform, and late reproductive induction. It is generated as a result of multiple cycles of local genetic improvement in which we combine superior plants from the best available varieties.

Red clover is the most important legume for short-rotation pastures, which we plant when we seek high forage production and quality for two or three years. Persistence is clearly the trait that needs improvement. Although the new varieties are more persistent than Estanzuela 116, root health and subsequent persistence need to be further improved to ensure that most plants achieve three years of high production. To generate an adapted, productive, and persistent variety, we collected superior plants from old pastures and seedbeds of the most interesting varieties, and after several selection cycles, we generated the new variety PG BAQUEANO. PG BAQUEANO is a new red clover variety with no winter dormancy, outstanding forage production, a leader in yield in national cultivar evaluation trials, and outstanding persistence and health.

Lotus corniculatus is the best-selling legume in the Uruguayan market, reflecting the interesting combination of attributes that make it particularly suitable as a choice for heavy soils with a risk of temporary waterlogging, pH values below 6, and limited soil phosphorus availability. Its persistence, outstanding forage quality, and lack of weathering are the three characteristics that explain its consistent inclusion in long-term pastures. Increasing persistence without losing productivity is the main objective of our genetic improvement program. To this end, we have conducted an exhaustive survey looking for superior plants with outstanding root and crown health in old pastures and seedbeds of the best available varieties. These five-, six-, and seven-year-old plants were evaluated and crossbred to generate a new population from which we selected our new high-persistence variety, adapted to our heavy, humid soils. The new variety will enter the Uruguayan market in 2026.

Lotus tenuis is a perennial legume of great importance and use in extremely humid, waterlogged environments. Its persistence and spring-summer yield are notable, coupled with its lack of meteorism, a characteristic shared by all species of the Lotus genus, which have considerable levels of condensed tannins in their forage. In these extremely humid and waterlogged environments, we sought out Lotus tenuis plants to generate our new variety, combining these plants with superior, vigorous plants with greater winter production and intermediate growth habits from the main improved varieties in the region. The selected plants were polycrossed in isolation to generate the new variety, which we will introduce to the market in 2026.

The tetraploid Lotus pedunculatus Grasslands Maku is an extraordinary option for improving natural lowland fields with deep, moist soils. In this environment, it stands out for its very high production of quality forage and persistence. This first tetraploid variety produces little seed, limiting its development and distribution. Pasture Genetics has developed multiple breeding cycles with the goal of increasing seed production and thus placing it on the market at competitive prices, facilitating its adoption and use not only for improving natural fields but also as a companion crop in long-term perennial pastures.

Together with Rafael Gallinal and his family, we have undertaken the difficult task of improving the renowned and historic El Rincón variety of Lotus subbiflorus for characteristics that make it a more useful and attractive option for improving natural fields on shallow and medium soils. Our program began with the production and subsequent evaluation of thousands of plants for their resistance to leaf rust and growth and bearing characteristics. We have generated two lines that we will compare with the control variety in 2025 and proceed with final selection on individual plants. The new variety will retain and improve the main attributes that made El Rincón such a great variety for improving natural fields: consistent establishment and persistence in varied environments and years, even under intense and frequent grazing that limits seeding, providing a contribution of quality forage in late winter and spring, and improving its health profile against leaf rust, generating a uniform and highly vigorous variety.

Bladder clover is an interesting winter annual legume characterized by its outstanding reseeding ability and very low risk of weathering. These attributes make it a valuable and useful legume for natural field improvement or for inclusion in long-term pastures. PG TACTIC is our new variety of bladder clover, the product of several selection cycles for outstanding winter forage production and complete and consistent reseeding.

The winter annual legumes Persian clover and hairy vetch play an important role as service crops in agricultural systems both in our region and around the world. They fix atmospheric nitrogen, rapidly produce significant amounts of aboveground and root biomass that boost soil fertility, and compete with weeds. We have initiated genetic improvement efforts in both species with the goal of generating our variety, which boasts high initial vigor, outstanding winter growth, and good resistance to foliar diseases. These new varieties will be part of our regional portfolio and will also be registered in international markets to develop production plans for export.