**2.1 Origin and distribution**

Tall wheatgrass is a Pontic-Mediterranean grass species. Its distribution ranges along the Mediterranean Basin from the Black Sea to the Iberian Peninsula. This vast area is covered by two, morphologically very different subspecies. The shorter and more fragile *E. elongatus* (Host) Runemark subsp. *elongatus* occurs in the western basin of the Pontus-Mediterranean area, while the taller and more robust *E. elongatus* (Host) Runemark subsp. *ponticus* (Podp.) Melderis occupies the Eastern Mediterranean Basin. The latter is also native to Hungary, reaching the north-westernmost part of its distribution in this area (Tutin et al., 1980).

Szarvasi-1 energy grass was bred as an intra-specific hybrid of drought-tolerant and robust *E. elongatus* subsp. *ponticus* populations from Hungary and from different pontic areas (Janowsky & Janowszky, 2007). The 10-year-long breeding process was conducted in Szarvas (East Hungary) but more recently the new breed has been involved in extensive crop management studies in different parts of the country. The Szarvasi-1 tall wheatgrass cultivar was officially recognized by the Hungarian Central Agricultural Office in 2004.
