Publication Date
1989
Description
Napiergrass, Pennisetum purpureum (2n = 28), a robust perennial tropical cullivar, has a potential dry matter yield (DMY) of over 35,000 kg ha·1 yr·1 under intensive cutting management. Its digestibility, however, is lower than other tropical species and does not breed true from seed. Despite these drawbacks, it is a useful male parent for the development of interspecific hybrids with Pearl Millet, Pennisetum glaucum (2n = 14). Cytoplasmic male-sterile lines of Pearl Millet, crossed with Napiergrass result in an excellent interspecific triploid hybrid (3x = 21) which is seed propagated (Hanna and Monson, 1980). These triploid interspecific hybrids arc highly male and female sterile but combine the leafiness and forage quality of Pearl Millet with the high DMY and perennial nature of Napiergrass. The sterility of these hybrids docs not present a limitation since their utilization is mainly for grazing and hay. The interspecific hybrids have potential for extending the production of high quality forage into the fall in the southern United States and for perennial forage production in the tropics. Most of the important tropical forage grasses in cultivalion are asexually propagated making their comparison with seed reproduced grasses difficult. A true comparison with an interspecific hybrid of Pennisetum should be made with a seed• propagated forage cultivar. A local forage sorghum cultivar, Millo Blanco (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench), was selected to be compared with an interspecific hybrid based on similar seed establishment characteristics. The objectives of this study were to dctennine the effects of cutting intervals on agronomic characteristics and forage quality in a triploid Pearl Millet x Napiergrass hybrid and a local forage photoperiod-sensitive sorghum at two locations in Puerto Rico.
Citation
Sotomayor-Rios, A; Torres-Cardona, S; Hanna, W; and Quiles-Belen, A, "Response of a Pennisteum Interspecific Hybrid and Local Cultivar Millo Blanco, Sorhum biocolor L. Moench, to Cutting Intervals and Locations" (2025). IGC Proceedings (1989-2023). 24.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1989/session4b/24
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Response of a Pennisteum Interspecific Hybrid and Local Cultivar Millo Blanco, Sorhum biocolor L. Moench, to Cutting Intervals and Locations
Napiergrass, Pennisetum purpureum (2n = 28), a robust perennial tropical cullivar, has a potential dry matter yield (DMY) of over 35,000 kg ha·1 yr·1 under intensive cutting management. Its digestibility, however, is lower than other tropical species and does not breed true from seed. Despite these drawbacks, it is a useful male parent for the development of interspecific hybrids with Pearl Millet, Pennisetum glaucum (2n = 14). Cytoplasmic male-sterile lines of Pearl Millet, crossed with Napiergrass result in an excellent interspecific triploid hybrid (3x = 21) which is seed propagated (Hanna and Monson, 1980). These triploid interspecific hybrids arc highly male and female sterile but combine the leafiness and forage quality of Pearl Millet with the high DMY and perennial nature of Napiergrass. The sterility of these hybrids docs not present a limitation since their utilization is mainly for grazing and hay. The interspecific hybrids have potential for extending the production of high quality forage into the fall in the southern United States and for perennial forage production in the tropics. Most of the important tropical forage grasses in cultivalion are asexually propagated making their comparison with seed reproduced grasses difficult. A true comparison with an interspecific hybrid of Pennisetum should be made with a seed• propagated forage cultivar. A local forage sorghum cultivar, Millo Blanco (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench), was selected to be compared with an interspecific hybrid based on similar seed establishment characteristics. The objectives of this study were to dctennine the effects of cutting intervals on agronomic characteristics and forage quality in a triploid Pearl Millet x Napiergrass hybrid and a local forage photoperiod-sensitive sorghum at two locations in Puerto Rico.
