What are cultivars?

Cultivars refer to genetically distinct groups within a species that have been selected and maintained through cultivation for certain desired traits. These traits could include specific colors, growth habits, disease resistance, or yield potential. Within agriculture and horticulture, cultivars are developed to enhance qualities that make plants more desirable for cultivation, such as flavor in fruits or visual appeal in ornamental plants.

By understanding cultivars as genetically different groups, we can appreciate the diversity created through breeding programs, which aim to improve crop performance or ornamental characteristics. This concept is crucial for growers who want to select the best plants for specific environments and needs, ensuring better yields and resilience against pests and diseases.

The other options do not adequately describe cultivars. For instance, naturally occurring grasses are wild species that have not been selectively bred. Hybrid varieties are a distinct category that refers to the offspring of two different species or cultivars, rather than groups within a species. Lastly, plant diseases impacting grass do not relate to the definition of cultivars at all, as cultivars specifically refer to cultivated forms of plants.