Introduction

Heterosis, or hybrid vigor, is a genetic phenomenon where F1 hybrids outperform their parents. Arguably, the practical utilization of heterosis in plant breeding created the greatest revolution in agriculture in the 20th century. Apart from dramatic yield improvements in a wide range of crops, hybrid breeding provides a better control of crop genetics, and is of considerable benefit to breeding and seed companies, if not always the growers (Fehr 1987; Lippman and Zamir 2007; Casler and van Santen 2010).

The levels of heterotic effects are different in different crops. Generally, heterosis is higher in cross-pollinating than in self-pollinating species. When inbred lines of cross-pollinating species such as rye or maize are used to make hybrids, heterosis can reach almost 300% over the mid-parent (MP) value but considerably less when the performance of the parental populations (from which the inbred lines were developed) is used as the benchmark. In self-pollinating species, no more than 20% MP heterosis can be expected (Becker 1992). The best-known examples of employing heterosis in practice are maize and pearl millet. In maize, Carena (2005) found an average + 20% MP heterosis in various environments, with up to the average of + 48% in subtropical locations of Mexico, Columbia and Thailand (Reif et al. 2003). In pearl millet, grain productivity increased in India from 305 kg ha−1 in years 1951–1955 to 998 kg ha−1 in years 2008–2012 due to the implementation of hybrid breeding, crop management and agricultural input use (Yadav et al. 2000). In West African pearl millet, grain yield showed an average MP heterosis of + 16.7%, ranging from − 26 to +73% for individual hybrids. Similarly, up to + 81% BP (better-parent) heterosis was found in hybrids of African landraces grown for 2 years at two locations in Niger (Ouendeba et al. 1993).

Much debate concerns the proper selection of parents for crossings in hybrid breeding. The results are inconsistent. Posselt (2010) demonstrated a significant positive correlation between forage yield of perennial ryegrass hybrids and the geographical distance between their parental populations. On the other hand, genetic relationship between parents used for F1 hybrid production was not significantly correlated with heterosis for total herbage yield in hybrids of Italian ryegrasses (Wang et al. 2016). Similarly, geographical distance between two parents presumably reflecting genetic relationship does not always correlate with heterosis. For example, in pearl millet, inter-country crosses had about similar grain yield as intra-country crosses (Pucher et al. 2016). There are probably some prerequisites for positive correlation including high trait heritability. For that, absence of such correlation might be expected for total herbage yield with its low heritability. Moreover, heterosis in the same hybrid or hybrid population seems to differ under various environmental conditions. Pucher et al. (2016) found that heterosis varied in pearl millet from + 4% at Samako (Mali) to + 47.3% at Bambey (Senegal). Breese (1969) found a trend for heterosis to be higher in poorer environmental conditions compared to high yielding sites. In line with this, slightly higher heterosis was observed in Lolium perenne L. hybrids under low-N compared to high-N growing conditions (Gaue et al. 2003).

In forage grasses, development of cultivars with improved dry matter yield and quality, and at the same time acceptable seed yield potentials, have been the main breeding targets over the last decades. However, in such major crops as Italian and perennial ryegrasses Lolium multiflorum Lam. and L. perenne L. only marginal improvements of the dry matter yield have been observed (Redfearn et al. 2005; Wilkins and Lovatt 2011). Here, the deployment of intervarietal or interspecific hybrids with high hybrid vigor could be highly beneficial. The highest heterosis observed in forage grasses to date (+ 70%) was found in the interspecific hybrid L. perenne × L. multiflorum (Lein 1998). On the other hand, only meager heterosis was observed in intergeneric Festuca × Lolium hybrids (Ghesquiere et al. 2016). The level of hybrid vigor appears to be related to the genetic distance separating the parents (East 1936). Such distance between different genera would reasonably be expected to be greater than among more closely related taxa. In forage grasses, there are also other attributes speaking in favor of distant hybrids, such as complementarity of their agronomic and end-use profiles. This complementarity is the main driving force behind quite successful breeding of intergeneric hybrids of forage grasses of the Festuca–Lolium complex, collectively referred to as Festulolium.

One way to maintain high level of heterosis without a risk of inbreeding depression in subsequent generations is a change in the reproductive behavior from sexual to vegetative propagation. Some sterile interspecific hybrids with high heterosis may switch to asexual reproduction, such as apomixis or rhizomes, and become highly competitive to their parental species. Vegetatively reproducing triploid hybrids of diploid Festuca pratensis Huds. and F. apennina De Not. are abundant at altitudes between 1100 and 1900 m above sea level (a.s.l.) in Swiss Alps (Kopecký et al. 2016). Triploid hybrids were the only cytotype found in several locations indicating their high competitiveness. Besides presumed heterosis, clonal propagation is probably the main reason for their abundance. We found that they can disperse to a distance of at least 14 m by their rhizomes (Kopecký et al. 2018). Visual observation of these vigorous plants indicates their potential in forage grass breeding.

High frequency of such hybrids at a narrow altitude range (between 1100 and 1900 m a.s.l.) in the Swiss Alps prompted this study, to estimate heterosis in triploid F. pratensis × F. apennina hybrids under different climatic conditions. Special attention is paid to the effect of altitude and the effect of heterosis on the high abundance of this hybrid in Swiss swards and potential for future breeding. In the course of this study an astonishing level of heterosis was observed, far surpassing published data so far.

Materials and methods

Plant material

Pairwise crosses between genotypes of tetraploid Festuca apennina (Fape) and diploid F. pratensis (Fp) were carried out in 2016 by the detached stem approach as described in Boller et al. (2018). Seeds were collected from each of the parental plants separately. Progenies were checked for ploidy by flow cytometry and triploids were assumed to be hybrids; diploids and tetraploids were assumed to have originated from self-pollination and were discarded. Hybrid origin of a sub-set of triploids was later confirmed by genomic in situ hybridization (see below). Two crosses (A and B) were selected for the study, with the highest number of triploid progeny. The Fape parents are part of the collection described in Kopecký et al. (2016). For cross A with 5 triploid progenies, the Fape parent originated from Moléson (Ct. Vaud, Switzerland), for cross B with 13 triploid progenies, from Stoos (Ct. Schwyz, Switzerland). Formal identification of the samples was undertaken by the authors. The Fp parents were two different elite genotypes of the Agroscope breeding program, with strong focus on disease resistance.

Half-sib families obtained from seed from the 4 open pollinated parental plants represented the parents. The two Fape parents had flowered among 14 genotypes selected from a a collection of Fape ecotypes. The two Fp parents had flowered in the same polycross with 6 other elite genotypes of the Agroscope breeding program. Half-sib progenies of the parental lines were used instead of the parental plants per se to compare plants of similar age and grown from seeds for all three groups.

Flow cytometry

The ploidy levels were estimated according to Dolezel et al. (2007) in nuclear suspensions prepared from 50 mg of leaf tissue, with F. pratensis cv. Kolumbus used as the reference standard having 2C = 6.49 pg (Kopecký et al. 2010). Samples were analyzed using a CyFlow Space flow cytometer (Sysmex Partec GmbH., Görlitz, Germany) equipped with a UV led diode array. At least 5000 events were acquired per sample and only measurements with the coefficient of variation for G0/G1 peaks < 2.0% were accepted.

Genomic in situ hybridization (GISH)

GISH was done a subset of 20 plants according to Kopecký et al. (2016). A probe from the total genomic DNA of F. pratensis was labeled using the Dig-Nick Translation Mix (Roche); blocking DNA made by shearing total genomic DNA of F. glaucescens. The probe/block mix was applied to metaphase chromosome spreads and the probe hybridization signals were detected by the anti-DIG-FITC conjugate.

Meteorological conditions and field experiments

Eighteen triploid hybrids and 20 genotypes each of diploid Fp and tetraploid Fape, randomly selected from the half-sib families corresponding to the parents of the hybrids were propagated clonally in the greenhouse. At the time of planting, ramets had two to four tillers. The four best plantlets per genotype were chosen. For several genotypes, not enough ramets survived, resulting in some missing individuals in the experiments.

Four sites at altitudes ranging from 200 to 1850 m a.s.l. were chosen (Table 1, ESM 1). The sites differed in temperature, precipitation and soil properties. In general, temperature during the growing period (April–October) decreased with altitude by about 0.5 °C per 100 m. Precipitation was the lowest at lowest site (Olomouc), and the highest at the 1000 m a.s.l. site, Fruehbuehl. The highest altitude site, Maran (1850 m a.s.l.), was clearly dryer than Fruehbuehl. Years 2017 (A0) and 2019 (H2) were about 1 °C warmer than the 1981–2010 mean and with average precipitation. Year 2018 was clearly warmer and much dryer than the average at all sites (ESM 1). With just 180 mm of precipitation from March to October, the summer 2018 at Olomouc had a prolonged period of drought. Soils at the two high altitude sites, Fruehbuehl and Maran, were less heavy and better drained than the ones at the low altitude sites, Reckenholz and Olomouc. Those two were gleyic, indicating there are periods of anaerobic conditions due to too much water and periods of physical stress caused by low water availability.

Table 1 Characteristics of the four experimental sites used for the field study
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Field experiments were planted in a completely randomized block design. The experimental unit was a spaced plant with a distance of 50 cm between rows and 30 cm between plants within a row. At each site, four replications (blocks) were used with separate randomization of the 58 genotypes in each block. Trials were planted between April and June 2017 and maintained for three vegetation periods: the establishment year A0 (2017) and the first (H1, 2018) and second (H2, 2019) full harvest years. All plants were cut 2–3 times in A0, 3–4 times in H1, and 2–3 times in H2. Early in spring and after each cut, except the last cut of a year, 50 units (kg/ha) of nitrogen were applied as ammonium nitrate.

The individual plant vigor was scored near the end of each growth cycle on a 1 (no growth) to 9 (maximum vigor) scale. Winter damage was rated at the beginning of the vegetation season in H1. Susceptibility to crown rust and bacterial wilt were rated on a 1 (no symptoms) to 9 (fully affected) scale when diseases occurred. The dry matter yield (DMY) was determined at one cut in A0, and at two cuts in H1 and H2. Herbage was clipped with a sickle, supported by a 3 cm high, V-shaped wooden template, after raising all tillers manually to the vertical. This resulted in stubble heights of about 5 cm. At the three Swiss sites, the dry matter of all plants was weighed after oven-drying at 105 °C for 24 h. At Olomouc, the fresh weight of each harvested plant was weighed at the field, and at least half the samples were oven-dried and weighed again. Then, dry matter of remaining plants was estimated from the fresh weight and the average dry matter content of the oven-dried plants.

Statistical analyses

Data were analyzed using the GLM procedure of SAS version 9.4 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA). DMY and the average vigor were evaluated for each experimental site separately. For comparisons among sites, DMY was first converted to relative DMY by dividing the absolute DMY of each plant by the average DMY of all plants harvested at a particular site, multiplied by 100%. Least squares means delivered by the GLM procedure were used to report the mean response of all hybrid and parental-species genotypes belonging to a cross (A or B). Significance of differences between these means was estimated by contrasts using the PDIFF option provided within the GLS procedure of SAS, considering genotypes within a particular progeny as a random effect. In order to evaluate differential growth response of genotypes to altitude, average yield over the two low (Olomouc and Reckenholz) and the two high (Fruehbuehl and Maran) altitude sites was calculated in a GLM analysis over all sites. Heterosis was calculated for each cross separately on the basis of least spares means over all genotypes per cross. Least squares means of the 5 half-sib progeny genotypes of the respective F. apennina and F. pratensis parents were used as a proxy to estimate performance of parents. Mid-parent (MP) heterosis (%) for yield (Y) was calculated as Y (triploid hybrid)/(Y(Fape parent)/2) × 100–100. Better parent (BP) heterosis was calculated as Y(triploid hybrid)/Y(higher yielding parent) × 100–100.

Results

All examined triploids (ca. 10% of the total number of triploids used in the field study) had 14 chromosomes with the GISH signal of F. pratensis and 7 chromosomes without a signal (indicating F. glaucescens-like chromosomes originating from F. apennina), confirming their hybrid origin. It is assumed with confidence that all triploids used in this study were in fact F. apennina × F. pratensis hybrids.

Heterosis and biomass production: forage dry matter yield and vigor

The relative dry matter yield (DMY) and visually assessed vigor of the triploid hybrids exceeded those of both their parents at both high altitude Swiss sites and in all three experimental years (Figs. 1, 2 and 3). The differences between the triploid hybrids and their parents were highly significant (p < 0.001) for both cross directions. The mid-parent heterosis ranged from +65 to +508% in terms of DMY and from + 2.04 to + 4.42 in terms of the mean vigor scores. Both the mid-parent (MP) and the better-parent (BP) heterosis for DMY gradually increased throughout the experiment at both high-altitude sites, with the MP reaching a maximum of + 626% at Fruehbuehl for the last cut of H2 (2019), and + 392% at Maran for the first cut of H2 (Fig. 4). The BP heterosis peaked simultaneously with the MP heterosis at + 468 and + 370%, respectively.

Fig. 1
figure 1

Relative dry matter (DM) yield and mean vigor score of 2 × Fp, 4 × Fape and their triploid (3 ×) hybrids in the planting year (A0, 2017) at four experimental sites (Olomouc, Czech Republic; Reckenholz, Switzerland; Fruehbuehl, Switzerland and Maran, Switzerland). Figures above 3 × hybrid columns indicate mid-parent (MP) heterosis of hybrids over parental species (as % for DM yield and as difference for vigor scores). Statistical annotations above Fp and Fape columns refer to difference to triploid hybrids, and those at the base of columns to difference between Fp and Fape as follows: ***p < 0.001, **p < 0.01; *p < 0.05; tr p < 0.10, ns not significant

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Fig. 2
figure 2

Relative dry matter (DM) yield and mean vigor score of 2 × Fp, 4 × Fape and their triploid (3 ×) hybrids in the first full harvest year (H1, 2018) at four experimental sites (Olomouc, Czech Republic; Reckenholz, Switzerland; Fruehbuehl, Switzerland and Maran, Switzerland). Figures above 3 × hybrid columns indicate mid-parent (MP) heterosis of hybrids over parental species (as % for DM yield and as difference for vigor scores). Statistical annotations above Fp and Fape columns refer to difference to triploid hybrids, and those at the base of columns to difference between Fp and Fape as follows: ***p < 0.001, **p < 0.01; *p < 0.05; tr p < 0.10, ns not significant

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Fig. 3
figure 3

Relative dry matter (DM) yield and mean vigor score of 2 × Fp, 4 × Fape and their triploid (3 ×) hybrids in the second full harvest year (H2, 2019) at four experimental sites (Olomouc, Czech Republic; Reckenholz, Switzerland; Fruehbuehl, Switzerland and Maran, Switzerland). Figures above 3 × hybrid columns indicate mid-parent (MP) heterosis of hybrids over parental species (as % for DM yield and as difference for vigor scores). Statistical annotations above Fp and Fape columns refer to difference to triploid hybrids, and those at the base of columns to difference between Fp and Fape as follows: ***p < 0.001, **p < 0.01; *p < 0.05; tr p < 0.10, ns not significant

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Fig. 4
figure 4

Development of mid-parent (a) and better-parent (b) heterosis of 3 × hybrids over their parents 2 × Fp and 4 × Fape during experimental years A0 (2017), H1 (2018) and H2 (2019) at four sites (Olomouc, Czech Republic; Reckenholz, Switzerland; Fruehbuehl, Switzerland and Maran, Switzerland)

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The two lowland sites, Olomouc (200 m a.s.l.) and Reckenholz (440 m a.s.l.), differed dramatically from the two high-altitude sites, but growth responses were similar at both sites. In A0, the hybrids had the highest yield of the three cytotypes. The difference between the hybrids and diploid Fp was significant in cross B, but not in cross A. In H1, yields of Fp and the hybrids were many times higher than those of tetraploid Fape at both sites, but the hybrids did not out-yield Fp; DMY of triploids was significantly lower at Reckenholz. In H2, Fape stopped growing completely at both low-altitude sites, and the hybrids had significantly lower yields and vigor than Fp. MP heterosis fluctuated around 100% at Reckenholz for most of the time, except for a final increase to + 218% in H2 (Fig. 4). Conversely, the MP heterosis declined sharply in Olomouc after reaching a maximum of + 141% in the summer of H1 (2018), becoming negative throughout H2. In A0 and H1, the BP heterosis decreased from low values to zero at both low-altitude sites and became negative in Olomouc from the end of H1 and throughout H2. However, it recovered to about + 50% in Reckenholz in the second half of H2.

The two independent measures of biomass production used, the relative dry matter yield (DMY) and visual scores (vigor), showed very similar responses, even though DMY was measured only for one (A0) or two cuts (H1, H2) while vigor was scored at each growth cycle (up to 5, based on the number of cuts). A comparison of vigor scores and DMY for individual cuts allowed determination of their mutual relationship. DMY increased logarithmically with the vigor scores in each case (Tab. ESM1). Overall, one-unit vigor score on the 1–9 scale corresponded to an increase of 0.436 log units, i.e. with a 1.54-fold increase of DMY. We used the vigor-DMY relationship calculated for each experimental site to estimate DMY at those instances where only vigor scores were taken. These estimated DMY scores were used along with the measured DMY to follow the development of heterosis over time at different locations.

Survival over time

Survival, the inverse of the death rate due to lack of adaptation, was an important component of large differences in the growth response of diploid Fp, tetraploid Fape and their triploid hybrids between low- and high-altitude sites (Fig. 5). At low altitude sites, Fape was clearly not adapted to local conditions and no plant survived to the end of the experiment. At both sites, the summer of 2018 (H1) was the period of the most rapid loss of Fape plants. Diploid Fp survived best at low altitudes, and the hybrids behaved intermediately, but not much worse than Fp. At Fruehbuehl (1000 m a.s.l.) the hybrids were the best adapted with 100% survival to the end of the experiment. On contrary, several plants of both Fp and Fape died (mostly during H2), resulting in about 80% survival at the end of the experiment. At Maran (1850 m a.s.l.), all triploid hybrids and Fape plants survived and only few Fp plants died.

Fig. 5
figure 5

Mortality of 2 × Fp, 4 × Fape and their triploid (3 ×) hybrids during experimental years A0 (2017), H1 (2018) and H2 (2019) at four sites (Olomouc, Czech Republic; Reckenholz, Switzerland; Fruehbuehl, Switzerland and Maran, Switzerland)

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Genetic variation within species

In order to visualize variation among genotypes within each of Fp, Fape and their hybrids, average DMYs of each genotype at the two low-altitude sites were contrasted against the averages for the two high-altitude sites (Fig. 6). Fape genotypes performed relatively better at higher altitudes, while Fp genotypes performed better at low altitudes. Within both Fape and Fp, there was a positive correlation between the performance of individual genotypes at low and high altitudes, significant for Fape in A0 and H1 and for Fp in all 3 years. The hybrids behaved differently. With an increasing tendency from A0 to H2, there was a high variability among genotypes, from those performing much better at low altitude to those performing much better at high altitude. They showed no or even a slightly negative correlation between performance at low and high altitudes. However, with one exception, the hybrids out-yielded all Fp and Fape plants in H2 at high altitudes and three of them also out-yielded all Fp and Fape plants at low altitudes. However, the hybrid which performed best at low altitudes was the second poorest at high altitudes in H2. Interestingly, this genotype (no. 117) was among those two derived from a seed harvested on the Fp parent. The other one of the two also performed much better at low than at high altitudes. Microscopic inspection revealed that both these hybrids were infected with the endophyte Neotyphodium uncinatum, as was their Fp mother.

Fig. 6
figure 6

Genetic variation for annual dry matter yield among genotypes of 2 × Fp, 4 × Fape and their triploid (3 ×) hybrids at low (sites Olomouc and Reckenholz) vs. high (sites Fruehbuehl and Maran) altitude in experimental years A0 (a), H1 (b), and H2 (c)

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Impact of disease susceptibility

Crown rust, a common disease caused by Puccinia coronata, occurred at Reckenholz and Fruehbuehl. Fape plants were highly susceptible, while Fp were nearly completely resistant (Fig. 7). The response of hybrids was not the same in the two crosses. In cross A, the hybrids were almost as susceptible as Fape (at the first scoring at Reckenholz even more) indicating a positive heterosis for susceptibility. In cross B, the response was intermediate in the hybrids, and only as the second scoring at Reckenholz they were significantly more susceptible than their resistant Fp parent.

Fig. 7
figure 7

Susceptibility to crown rust (R), bacterial wilt (Xtg) and winter damage (WD) of 2 × Fp, 4 × Fape and their triploid (3 ×) hybrids in cross A (top) and cross B (bottom). Visual disease scores (1 = healthy, 9 = fully affected) taken at Reckenholz (rust Re1 and Re2, Xtg) and Fruehbuehl (rust Fb), and scores of winter damage at Olomouc (WD Olo), Reckenholz (WD Rec), Fruehlbuehl (WD Frb) and Maran (WD Mar). Figures above 3 × hybrid columns represent mid-parent heterosis as difference in scores, with negative values pointing to positive heterosis for resistance. Statistical annotations (see Fig. 1) refer to significance of difference between 3 × hybrids and their parents. All scores were highly significantly (p < 0.001) different between 2 × Fp and 4 × Fape

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Bacterial wilt, a devastating disease of Lolium and Festuca species in lowland Switzerland caused by Xanthomonas translucens pv. graminis, markedly affected plants at Reckenholz. Similar to crown rust, Fp was highly resistant, while Fape was highly susceptible. The hybrids behaved intermediately, but exhibited positive heterosis for resistance, especially in the cross B. The hybrids and Fape showed a strong negative correlation between susceptibility to Xanthomonas and subsequent DMY throughout the remaining period of the experiment (ESM 2).

Winter damage was scored at each location as the proportion of brown (dead) leaves just before the start of spring growth. At both low altitude sites, Fape showed much higher winter damage than Fp, with the hybrids behaving intermediately. Winter damage of the hybrids at Olomouc was more severe (close to Fape) when compared to Reckenholz, where it was almost as low as for Fp. At both high-altitude sites, the hybrids were least damaged after winter, significantly less than Fp. For the highest altitude site Maran, Fape showed significantly less winter damage than Fp, but the inverse was true for Fruehbuehl. In terms of winter damage, the two crosses A and B behaved identically.

Discussion

The level of heterosis can be measured in several different ways. Falconer and MacKay (1996) introduced the mid-parent (MP) heterosis as a difference between the trait performance of a hybrid and the mean of the two parental lines. Occasionally, the better-parent (BP) heterosis is used. However, in outbreeding species, populations are often used for the hybrid production. For that, the panmictic mid-parent (PMP) and the panmictic better-parent (PBP) parameters of heterosis were established to reflect the performance of a hybrid population relative to its two parental populations (Lamkey and Edwards 1999). In this study, we use the MP and BP criteria.

Heterosis in forage grasses is usually studied under space planting and the heterotic effect appears to be more pronounced under this system than under sward conditions (Foster 1971, 1973; Posselt 1989). However, even when using spaced plants, PMP heterosis for yield is rather modest, from + 1 to + 48% in Lolium perenne compared to − 9 to + 8% when plots were used (reviewed in Posselt 2003). Here we decided on the spaced-plant experimental design, for several reasons, including convenience and the ability to gather a wider range of observations than that possible in a sward.

Extent of heterosis for dry matter yield

Very large mid-parent (MP) and better-parent (BP) heterosis values for the hybrids of non-inbred Fp and Fape observed here were far greater than any values reported so far in forage grasses. Posselt (2003) cited 15 studies involving 5 different forage grass species in a range of environments with a maximum MP heterosis for the annual forage yield of + 70% (19% on average), compared to over + 500% in our study. For individual cuts, the maximum MP heterosis reported by Posselt (2003) was + 152%, compared to + 625% here with a comparable experimental design (individual spaced plants). Other studies with sown plots yielded even lower heterosis, usually less than + 20% (Posselt 1993; Wang et al. 2016).

Interestingly, the highest reported heterosis values so far were observed in an interspecific hybrid, L. perenne × L. multiflorum (Posselt 2003). Interspecific hybrids within the Festuca-Lolium complex, commonly referred to as Festulolium, are of interest mainly to combine stress resilience of Festuca species with productivity and quality of Lolium species. Heterosis for yield per se is rather small (Ghesquiere et al. 2016). Humphreys et al. (2014) report yields similar to, at best 10% higher than the respective Lolium parent for the most successful Festulolium candidates. Our triploid Fape × Fp hybrids provide an example of an interspecific hybrid within the Festuca-Lolium complex with a high potential for heterosis for forage yield. This may add a new dimension to the discussion of the potential of interspecific forage grass hybrids. Indeed, exploitation of heterosis is considered a highly promising approach to speed up the supposedly low progress in breeding of forage grasses for yield (Herridge et al. 2019). Several approaches are followed, such as developing doubled haploids (Begheyn et al. 2016), cytoplasmic male sterility (cms) in hybrid production (Islam et al. 2014; Sykes et al. 2017), using the S-Z-self-incompatibility system to develop inbred lines (Do Canto et al. 2016) as well as optimizing the construction of self-incompatible hybrids (Pembleton et al. 2015). However, the use of interspecific hybrids to exploit heterosis for forage yield is not among the prime approaches followed, even though some promising examples exist, such as the energy grass Miscanthus ‘Giganteus’, an interspecific hybrid between Miscanthus sinensis and Miscanthus ogiformis (Robson et al. 2013).

It is somewhat surprising that our interspecific hybrid between two closely related species of Festuca show such a large heterosis for biomass yield. F. apennina (Fape) is morphologically so similar to F. pratensis (Fp) that in older literature it was referred to as a subspecies (Hegi 1908; Conert 1998) or even a varietas of F. pratensis (Stebler 1904). However, recent studies clearly show that F. apennina is an allotetraploid originating by hybridization of a progenitor of the current F. pratensis with a so-far unidentified species related to the modern F. glaucescens (Kopecký et al. 2016). One would, nevertheless, expect little heterosis because the Fp genome is present in Fape. However, Fp showed about five times more genetic diversity (estimated by DArT markers) than Fape, suggesting that the Fp genome present in Fape is only distantly related to modern Fp (Kopecký et al. 2018). Generally, heterosis increases as the genetic disparity of the parents or parental populations increases and interspecific hybrids seem to display greater heterosis than intraspecific hybrids (East 1936).

The triploid Fape × Fp hybrids are almost completely sterile. This can be considered an advantage in nature because it guarantees long term stability of F1 hybridity. Advanced generations of Festulolium hybrids show much less heterosis than would be expected from their F1 hybrids (Marc Ghesquiere, personal communication). Since our Fape × Fp hybrids can efficiently propagate vegetatively through rhizomes (Kopecký et al. 2018), heterosis is conserved and can be expected to contribute significantly to their competitiveness in natural grassland. Highly competitive populations of the triploid hybrids were observed at mid-altitude sites (Kopecký et al. 2018). They dominated the swards in several locations and were the unique cytotype of all 54 Festuca specimens collected in one location at 1350 m a.s.l. However, sterility of triploid hybrids is an obvious obstacle for their further exploitation in grass breeding and agriculture.

Effect of altitude on relative performance of triploid hybrids and their parents

The performance of triploid hybrids relative to their parents was affected by the altitude of the trial site, and this effect increased over time. In the year A0, the MP heterosis ranged among the sites from + 64 to + 111% without a clear altitudinal pattern (Fig. 1). In H1, it was lower, at about + 45% at Reckenholz (440 m a.s.l.) but increased to about + 180% at Fruehbuehl (1000 m a.s.l.) and about + 140% at Maran (1850 m a.s.l.) (Figure 2). At Olomouc (200 m a.s.l.), the relative performance of hybrids was better than at Reckenholz, but not as good as at Maran. In H2, a clear altitudinal pattern was observed (Fig. 3), with negative values for the MP heterosis at Olomouc, low values at Reckenholz, and an overarching maximum at Fruehbuehl of about + 500%. In H2, the MP heterosis was also high in Maran, with over + 350%. These patterns were highly consistent for both crosses (A and B) investigated. The highest levels of precipitation combined with a deep, well-drained soil at the mid-altitude site, Fruehbuehl (ESM 1), probably contributed to good performance of Fape relative to Fp, and to the maximum expression of heterosis in the hybrids. The shallow soil at Maran with poorer water holding capacity and nutrient delivery potential was probably responsible for the poorer relative performance of Fape, compared to Fruehbuehl, and the somewhat lesser expression of heterosis. The altitudinal and temporal patterns of the MP heterosis were related to the relative performance of the two parental species, Fape and Fp. When Fape performed very poorly compared to Fp, such as at low altitude in H2, the MP heterosis of triploid hybrids was also low or even negative. When Fape performed moderately well, higher values for the MP heterosis were observed. In H2, a consistent altitudinal pattern of the relative performance of Fp and Fape was reached, with performance of Fape rising steadily with altitude.

Impact of biotic and abiotic stresses

Gradual dying of Fape plants to extinction during the last year of the experiment at low altitudes was responsible for their overall low performance at Olomouc and Reckenholz. At Reckenholz, bacterial wilt was the most damaging factor. Some plants died already during the spring 2018 when the disease was scored, and a dramatic loss of plants occurred after the first cut in H1. Yield losses and lack of regrowth after cutting is a common feature of heavy infestation with Xanthomonas (Egli et al. 1975; Egli and Schmidt 1982). Therefore, relatively good Xanthomonas resistance of the hybrids contributed to the longer persistence of positive heterosis for yield at the Reckenholz site. At Olomouc, summer drought in 2018 was the likely cause of Fape death. While most F ape plants survived until the second cut, a significant loss of plants occurred in July and August when the drought and heat were the most severe. The hybrids responded differently to these stresses. At Reckenholz, the hybrids showed considerable variation in the susceptibility to Xanthomonas. Resistant plants survived without visible symptoms and kept producing biomass, while the susceptible ones reduced growth, and 25% died during 2018. This produced a very strong negative correlation between the Xanthomonas susceptibility and yields of hybrids (ESM 2). This correlation was also highly significant for Fape, but low and insignificant for the largely resistant Fp. Over all genotypes in the study, Xanthomonas susceptibility was also highly significantly and negatively correlated with subsequent yield, reflecting the higher susceptibility of Fape and, to a lesser extent, the hybrids, compared to resistant Fp. Resistance to Xanthomas appears to be controlled by few major genes (Studer et al. 2006). The two elite Fp plants which were used to produce our triploid hybrids were from the Agroscope breeding program after several cycles of recurrent selection for Xanthomonas resistance, and likely carried such genes. The marked segregation among the triploids from crosses with a highly susceptible Fape plant suggests heterozygosity for resistance genes in the Fp parents. The response of triploid to the dry conditions at Olomouc was more gradual. Similar numbers of Fp plants and the hybrids survived the drought in H1 (Fig. 5), but yields of the hybrids relative to Fp (the better parent) declined significantly during H1 (2018) (see Fig. 4). Attrition of the hybrids continued in H2 and yield decreased further. Among the Fape × Fp hybrids, a higher drought tolerance of the Fp parent was apparently not sufficient to adequately reduce the high water requirement of the Fape parent. Probably, the difficult soil conditions at Olomouc contributed to the poor performance of Fape and the hybrids after the drought of summer 2018.

At low altitude, Fape plants were seriously damaged after winter (brown leaves). As such, this dormancy response can express a survival mechanism. On the other hand, it results in slow spring growth and lower first cut yields, compared to the winter green Fp with hardly any signs of winter damage. The hybrids were intermediate between Fape and Fp. However, at the highest altitude (Maran), Fape and the hybrids showed significantly less winter damage by snow mold caused by Microdochium nivale) than Fp. A peculiar situation was observed at Fruehbuehl. Here, the hybrids showed negative heterosis for winter damage. Apparently, hybrids were less winter dormant than Fape and less susceptible to snow mold than Fp and thus they showed strong heterosis.

The hybrids derived from the two crosses A and B differed markedly in their response to crown rust infection. Hybrids from cross A showed a strong positive heterosis for susceptibility (negative for resistance), while those from cross B were intermediate between susceptible Fape and resistant Fp, not significantly more susceptible than Fp in two out of three scorings, and thus showed negative heterosis for susceptibility (positive for resistance). Indeed, rust susceptibility/resistance was the only case of negative heterosis for one, and positive for the other cross. This differential response points to a different architecture of the rust resistance in the two parent Fp plants. The crown rust resistance in the Festuca–Lolium complex is polygenic, as evidenced by a successful genomic prediction model to select for rust resistance in perennial ryegrass (Arojju et al. 2018). Two major and a number of minor QTLs for rust resistance in a segregating pseudo-testcross population of Italian ryegrass were identified (Studer et al. 2007). Schubiger and Boller (2017) demonstrated the prevalence of several independent race-specific major genes, each of which showed dominant, Mendelian segregation in cross progenies of perennial ryegrass. Likely, the Fp parent of cross B possesses some dominant, partly homozygous major resistance genes, while the resistance of the Fp parent of cross A relies mostly on minor resistance genes overridden by susceptibility genes of the Fape parent.

Conclusions

The triploid Fape × Fp hybrid investigated in this study provided by far the highest values for the mid-parent heterosis ever reported for forage crops. This points to a hitherto unexploited potential of heterosis for biomass yield within the economically important Festuca–Lolium complex. Maximum levels of heterosis were only observed in a specific environment, at mid-altitude in Switzerland. This environment is squarely half way between the natural ranges of the two parental species: low-altitude (up to about 900 m a.s.l.) for Fp and high-altitude (above 1500 m a.s.l.) for Fape. Thus, at mid-altitude, factors responsible for the altitudinal limitation of occurrence of the parent species prevail at an intermediate expression and thus provide an ideal environment for the interspecific hybrid. High heterosis of the hybrids at mid-altitude reflects their dominance over the two parent species observed in natural grassland, suggesting that heterosis plays an important role in their evolutionary success in these habitats. At present, practical exploitation of such interspecific hybrids with large heterotic effects in agriculture is hampered by their sterility. Perhaps chromosome doubling in such hybrid will not only restore fertility but also fix the heterotic effects. Alternatively, an industrial-scale vegetative propagation should be explored.