Evaluation of agronomic characters and production performance of six Elymus germplasm from Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

In order to select promising germplasm resource, the present study evaluated some agronomic traits and production performance of 6 Elymus germplasm from different altitudes of Tibetan Plateau. The results showed that different germplasm had different performance. Leaves and panicle of E.nutans from Guinan County had outstanding performance with higher seed yield (1 265.9 kg·ha-1), which had potential to be forage with seeds production. E.nutans from Gonghe County with high forage yield (8 714.9 kg·ha-1)and the strongest stability had potential to be long-term forage breeding material. E.sibiricus from Dari County with longest growing period(170 d), highest seed yield(1 431.3 kg·ha-1) and higher forage yield(5 780.9 kg·ha-1) had potential to bred as medium- or long-term forage and seed production. E.sibiricus from Gangcha County also had potential to be forage with seeds production because their leaves and panicle had outstanding performance and their forage yield was higher (6 297.4 kg·ha-1). E.sibiricus from Banma County and Qinghai Lake around area had potential to be precocious forage resources because of their shortest growing days (120 d) and poor production performance.