b'and 4turf ryegrass varieties. Tall fescue and hard fescues doDLF has developed successful varieties, yet the work has particularly well, explains Jensen.only just begun to prepare for future extreme droughts and heat.For tall fescues, we now have some varieties that are veryWe have to increase our trial network and take some ideas fine compared to what you normally see in tall fescue. They arefrom countries like Australia where drought is a recurrent prob-not as dark as the American varieties, which makes them goodlem. We also have to work on combining speciesmainly grass in drought mixtures for Europe, she says. We also offer 4turfblends, plus legumes. There are plenty of clovers, alfalfa, etc. for sports fieldsthey have a stronger root mass and developwhich could help the survival of grasses, with the advantage roots faster which make them more drought tolerant both in aof bringing nitrogen to grasses, he explains. At DLF, we have spring drought and in a summer drought. a good team working on genomics, which could help our speed 4Turf ryegrasses are an evolution of classical ryegrass,of work and efficiency to find the right combination of genes.made up of 4n chromosomes, while classical ryegrass only has 2n. The cells of 4n plants are largernearly double the size. WHO WILL HELP FARMERS IN THEIR TIMEThere are some disadvantages for turf crops, like broaderOF NEED?leaves. But because cells are bigger, they have more water con- While breeders continue to work to develop crops that can tent, says Christophe Galbrun, turf plant breeder for DLF. Theadapt to the changes brought on by extreme weather, experts roots are also richer in water content, so recovery after dryshare that they are doing everything they can to predict the full conditions will be more efficient. So, when classical ryegrassesimpacts of the drought and water shortages.become brown or die because drought is really severe, 4turfClimate change is undoubtedly more noticeable every ryegrass will stay green or will survive longer. year; the European Commission and its scientists are working tirelessly to map and study this crisis with the best technology WHAT IS NEXT FOR DROUGHT RESISTANT TURF? available, from the space and on the ground, and are leading Experts at DLF are always striving towards developing newthe efforts to protect our environment and our citizens from varieties as they encourage turf managers to futureproof theiremergencies, said Gabriel.turf and choose the right grasses and solutions from the start,Despite all hands-on deck from the industry, some farmers shares Jensen. have been left to their own devices to salvage what is left of their We know that the climate changeincrease in temperaturecrop from this season.and a change in precipitation patternhas an influence on theSo far, we have had no extraordinary aid for this complex turf (growth conditions, disease pattern, etc.). We have a clearyear. That is why we demand direct aid to compensate for the focus to develop new varieties that perform better under theselack of income of farmers and livestock farmers, but direct aid conditionsvarieties with increased disease tolerance or/andthat comes into the pocket of the farmer or livestock farmer. Many increased drought tolerance, she says. people forget that the countryside produces food for us to eat three While breeders plan to continue their work on 4turf andtimes a day. Many only set foot in the countryside during election hard fescues, the most promising species is tall fescues due toperiods, and many are forgetting that not having a productive its ability to survive in deep soils and dry conditions, accordingagriculture will mean being in the hands of third countries in the to Galbrun.future. We should not play with food, Gallardo concludes.32IEUROPEAN SEEDIEUROPEAN-SEED.COM'