Publication Date
1993
Description
Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb,) is an important forage grass, and like other C3 grasses, has the potential to cause grass tetany in grazing ruminants. Genetic variation in cation uptake by fescue was exploited by selecting for high Mg and Ca relative to K CQncenlration in fescue, The grass tetany ratio, K/(Ca+Mg), was reduced about 18% after 2 selection cycles. The mean Mg and K/(Ca+Mg) values for 20 C1 plants, grown at pH 6.4, were weakly related (r2-0.42 and 0.48) to those of plants grown in calcareous soil pH 8.2. The P, Na, Mn, Fe, Cu, and Zn concentrations were not affected by the selection process.
Citation
Mayland, H F. and Sleper, D A., "Developing a Tall Fescue for Reduced Grass Tetany Risk" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 7.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1993/session29/7
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Developing a Tall Fescue for Reduced Grass Tetany Risk
Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb,) is an important forage grass, and like other C3 grasses, has the potential to cause grass tetany in grazing ruminants. Genetic variation in cation uptake by fescue was exploited by selecting for high Mg and Ca relative to K CQncenlration in fescue, The grass tetany ratio, K/(Ca+Mg), was reduced about 18% after 2 selection cycles. The mean Mg and K/(Ca+Mg) values for 20 C1 plants, grown at pH 6.4, were weakly related (r2-0.42 and 0.48) to those of plants grown in calcareous soil pH 8.2. The P, Na, Mn, Fe, Cu, and Zn concentrations were not affected by the selection process.
