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¹ Central Research Institute for Field Crops, Ankara,Türkiye DOI : 10.21566/tbmaed.28558 - The use of natural material in ongoing breeding programs provides a unique resource and they have vital importance for the improvement of plant production and the rehabilitation of degraded rangelands. The aim of this study was to improve the new rhizomatous crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum L. Gaertn.) collections with high adaptation ability for rangeland improvement using national genetic sources. A total of 8 genotypes collected from the region and from other institutions were tested the morphological and phenological characters. After testing one population, G-466, with rhizome was selected to be evaluated further. The mass selection was implemented in this study. Two trials with G-466 and population were conducted during the years of 2007 to 2010 in Yenimahalle and Gölbaşı locations, Ankara. The observed morphological, and agronomical characteristics were main stem height, main stem diameter, internode length, node numbers per main stem, flag leaf length, flag leaf width, forage yield and hay yield. Data were statistically analyzed and measured characteristics of two genotypes were compared by F test. Correlation analysis was performed to determine the relationship among the characters. The morphological characters as main stem height, main stem thickness, internode distance long, node numbers per main stem, flag leaf length and flag leaf width in G-466 were 58.5 cm, 2.1 mm, 13.2 cm, 3.7, 8.4 cm, 4.9 mm, respectively. There was no significant difference between the studied genotypes in fresh forage and hay yields on the two locationaverages. Fresh forage and hay yields in G-466 were 482.2 kg/da and 120.6 kg/da, respectively. High correlation (0.893) found between hay yield and main stem length. There were also high correlation length of internode and node numbers in main stem with hay yield. As considered hay quality, the G-466 had higher crude protein content (11.58-11.33%), than population (9.71-10.58%) in 2009 and 2010. But it was lower relative feeding value than population. In conclusion, the G-466 genotype is recommended for grassland improvement and making artificial pasture as using alone or in mixtures. Keywords : Rhizomatous crested wheatgrass, morphological and agronomical characters