The objective of this study was to verify intrapopulation variability for traits related to early forage production and heading date in an annual ryegrass population (Lolium multiflorum). A total of 500 plants were evaluated for heading date. Vigor, plant height and tiller number were evaluated 90 days after sowing. There was great variability for all the traits and correlations between early production traits and heading date were low. It is possible to obtain ryegrass cultivars with a larger period of utilization.
Lolium multiflorum; forages; vigor; plant height; heading date
