Publication Date
1989
Description
Pearl millet, Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br., and napiergrass, P. purpureum Schum., are two of the major forage producing Pennisetum species in the tropics and subtropics. Pearl millet is known for its high quality forage and significant progress has been made in developing improved cultivars (Hanna, et al., 1988). Napiergrass has been successfully crossed with pearl millet to produce high quality and high yielding perennial interspecific (PMN) forage hybrids (Hanna and Monson, 1980 and Muldoon and Pearson, 1979). A germplasm evaluation program and an interspecific hybridization program at Tifton, GA (Hanna and Dujardin, 1985) has resulted in the identification of Pennisetum species and production of new interspecific hybrids with potential for improving production of high quality forage. The purpose of this research was to determine the agronomic and quality characteristics of these potentially new forage cultivars.
Citation
Hanna, W W.; Dujardin, M; and Monson, W G., "Using Diverse Species to Improve Quality and Yield in the Pennisteum Genus" (2025). IGC Proceedings (1989-2023). 53.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1989/session3b/53
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Using Diverse Species to Improve Quality and Yield in the Pennisteum Genus
Pearl millet, Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br., and napiergrass, P. purpureum Schum., are two of the major forage producing Pennisetum species in the tropics and subtropics. Pearl millet is known for its high quality forage and significant progress has been made in developing improved cultivars (Hanna, et al., 1988). Napiergrass has been successfully crossed with pearl millet to produce high quality and high yielding perennial interspecific (PMN) forage hybrids (Hanna and Monson, 1980 and Muldoon and Pearson, 1979). A germplasm evaluation program and an interspecific hybridization program at Tifton, GA (Hanna and Dujardin, 1985) has resulted in the identification of Pennisetum species and production of new interspecific hybrids with potential for improving production of high quality forage. The purpose of this research was to determine the agronomic and quality characteristics of these potentially new forage cultivars.
