Náttúrufræðingurinn - 1964, Síða 44

NÁTTÚ RU FRÆÐIN G U RIN N
136
S U M M A R Y
Ecotypes of Sea Lyme Grass in Iceland
by Björn Sigurbjörnsson
The Universily Research Institute, Reyhjavik. Present address: Division of
Research ancl Isotopes, International Atomic Energy Agency, Kaerntnerring II,
Vienna I, Austria.
In preparation for breeding Elymus arenarius a survey was made o£ varia-
bility in native populations at five locations in Iceland. Measurements were
made in situ, on transplanted material in replicated trials, and on progeny
of tlie same plants grown in replicated trials at two locations. A considerable
range in variability was observed. Differences between locations and within
locations revealed that some of this variability is heritable and could serve
as a basis for breeding superior varieties. The variability in many of the
characters studied could be differentiated into patterns depending on locality.
It was concluded tliat the populations at the five areas studied represented
fairly distinct ecotypes and within each population there existed a number
of biotypes. The ecotype from the l’liykkvibær area was found to be superior
agronomically to the other ecotypes with reference to rnost of the characters
studied.
Evidence for the fact that evolution of agronomically superior traits seemed
to have occurred under llie more favorable environmental conditions, and
conversely that least development of these traits appeared under the less favor-
able conditons was presented.
HEIMILDA RIT - REFERENCES
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— 1952. Biological flora of the Britisli Isles. Elymus L., Elymus arenarius L.
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Bowden, W. M. 1957. Cytotaxonomy o£ section Psammelymus of the genus
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Clausen, ]., Keck, D. D., and Hiesey, W. M. 1939. The concept ot' species based
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