Timothy grass (Phleum pratense L.) – a perennial loosely tufted grass crop of spring development type, widely distributed in coastal regions of the Far East: Khabarovsk and Kamchatka Krai, Magadan Region, Sakhalin Region, and the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug. The crop is characterized by frost hardiness, ability to withstand early and late frosts, as well as flooding for up to 20 days. At the same time, it poorly tolerates drought.
The variety is characterized by an upright bush in the second year of life, leaves of pale green-green color of medium width and length. Inflorescences emerge slowly or are almost absent in the year of sowing; the time of inflorescence emergence is average. The stem has medium length upon full emergence, and the upper internode and inflorescence are also of medium size. An important parameter is the high yield of dry matter: in the Volga-Vyatka region – 39.2 c/ha, in the West Siberian region – 28.3 c/ha, which exceeds standard indicators.
Timothy grass is used primarily as a hay-making crop. It is suitable for growing in Sverdlovsk Oblast and the Republic of Altai, as well as in coastal areas of the Far East. The crop demonstrates resistance to stem rust, however, the insufficient variety of perennial grasses requires further breeding to increase the yield of forage mass and seeds, as well as improve adaptive properties under various climatic conditions.
