New Domestic Cultivars of Perennial Grasses in Serbia Field Crop Production 673 New Domestic Cultivars of Perennial Grasses in Serbia Zorica TOMIĆ 1 , Dejan SOKOLOVIĆ 2 , Zoran LUGIĆ 2 , Jasmina RADOVIĆ 2 , Zorica NEŠIĆ 1 1 Institute for Animal Husbandry, Autoput 16, 11080 Belgrade-Zemun, Serbia (e-mail: zotom@mail.com) 2 Institute for Forage Crops, Trg Kosturnice 50, 37000 Kruševac, Serbia Abstract In this paper one part of results obtained in investigation of new cultivars of perennial grasses is presented. New cultivar of English ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), and cultivars which are being reacknowledged are included: Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.), red fescue (Festuca rubra L.) and French ryegrass (Arrhenatherum elkatius (L.) P. Beauv. ex J. Presl & C. Presl.). Cultivars were selected in the Institute for forage crops in Kruševac, and compared to standard domestic cultivars. Trial was carried out on four locations: Novi Sad, Kruševac, Zaječar and Zemun, in period 2005-2006. In four cuts production of green and dry matter was determined, and using standard laboratory methods main quality parameters were determined: crude fibre, protein and fat, content of ashes and NFE. Results were calculated using variance analysis, and significance of differences was tested using LSD test. Subsequent to this research cultivars of Italian ryegrass K-13, red fescue K-14 and French ryegrass K-12 were re -acknowledged and introduced onto the list of cultivars, and new cultivar of English ryegrass K-11, which is the first cultivar of this species selected in our country, was acknowledged. Obtained results recommend new tested and acknowledged cultivars to be introduced into production when grass-legume mixtures are established or for pure crops to be utilized by cutting or grazing. Also, in process of introduction of these cultivars into production the possibility for establishment of seed plants is opening polination, and in this way imported seed of grass species, which is in deficit on domestic market, is substituted with domestic production of our cultivars. Key words: perennial grasses, cultivars, production, quality Introduction Genetic potential for production of green mass or dry matter is becoming increasingly limiting factor which can be influenced slightly in selection process. This is also the case with other traits which are of importance for increase of production of livestock feed and providing of feeds in regard to the quantity and in quality. Increase of less than one percent of quality parameters, of which the protein content is the most important, represents great contribution to total value and quantity of crude protein, which eventually increases total value and quality of livestock feed. Goal of breeding and creation of new cultivars of forage perennial grasses is to realize their exploitation value in different utilization systems. Breeders of domestic animals are interested first of all in the yield and quality of forage and their suitability to their requirements and production systems. Final valorisation of cultivar is observed after it has been used in nutrition of livestock (Đukić et al., 1996). In process of creation of new forage plant cultivars most attention is directed to yield and quality, and which of the two will have advantage depends on the livestock, rearing method and nutrition (White and Wight, 1984). Investigation of the quality of selected cultivars is the most important final stage in the work of all plant breeders. Also, different agro-ecological production conditions, purpose and utilization method impose the need for selection of forage plant cultivars on certain specific traits. However, all breeding programmes include selection on increased production and quality of forage (Tomić et al., 2000). Obtained results in this research can recommend one cultivar for final use in practice either by seed producers or farmers for production of livestock feed. Proceedings. 43 rd Croatian and 3 rd International Symposium on Agriculture. Opatija. Croatia (673- XXX) ORIGINAL SCIENTIFIC PAPER Proceedings. 43 rd Croatian and 3 rd International Symposium on Agriculture. Opatija. Croatia (673-676) ORIGINAL SCIENTIFIC PAPER