Track 4-1-1: Plant Genetic Resources, Collection, Conversation, Evaluation and IPR Issues
Description
A native of Africa, Guinea grass (Panicum maximum Jacq.) was introduced to almost all tropical countries as a source of animal fodder. It is an ideal forage plant being perennial in growth habit, grows well on a wide variety of soils and tolerant of shade and fire, but not to water logging or severe drought. It also responds quickly to fertilizer and watering. Because of these desirable features, guinea grass is well established throughout tropical countries of both hemispheres where it plays an important role in dairy production.
Owing to the cultivation of this crop in varied agro-climatic conditions it is very common to get varied relative performances from the same cultivars when they are evaluated in different environments or in different years. The variations that occur in the performance of cultivars are attributed to the effect of the genotype × environment (G × E) interaction (Haldane, 1946; Falconer and Mackay, 1996). The selection of genotypes to maximise yield when genotype rank changes occur across environments is complicated because of the complexity of genotype responses. This type of interaction reduces selection efficiency and the accuracy of cultivar recommendation (Crossa and Cornelius, 1997).
Though guinea grass is in cultivation throughout the world and a good variability is available, concerted efforts have not been made adequately to validate and interpret the effects of G x E interaction on green fodder yield. As a result, the genetic improvement in guinea grass for fodder yield and quality has become impasse. Hence an attempt was made to study the interactive effects between genotype and environment on green fodder yield.
Included in
Predicting the Yield Potential of Guinea Grass (Panicum maximum Jacq.) Genotypes across India through G x E Analysis
A native of Africa, Guinea grass (Panicum maximum Jacq.) was introduced to almost all tropical countries as a source of animal fodder. It is an ideal forage plant being perennial in growth habit, grows well on a wide variety of soils and tolerant of shade and fire, but not to water logging or severe drought. It also responds quickly to fertilizer and watering. Because of these desirable features, guinea grass is well established throughout tropical countries of both hemispheres where it plays an important role in dairy production.
Owing to the cultivation of this crop in varied agro-climatic conditions it is very common to get varied relative performances from the same cultivars when they are evaluated in different environments or in different years. The variations that occur in the performance of cultivars are attributed to the effect of the genotype × environment (G × E) interaction (Haldane, 1946; Falconer and Mackay, 1996). The selection of genotypes to maximise yield when genotype rank changes occur across environments is complicated because of the complexity of genotype responses. This type of interaction reduces selection efficiency and the accuracy of cultivar recommendation (Crossa and Cornelius, 1997).
Though guinea grass is in cultivation throughout the world and a good variability is available, concerted efforts have not been made adequately to validate and interpret the effects of G x E interaction on green fodder yield. As a result, the genetic improvement in guinea grass for fodder yield and quality has become impasse. Hence an attempt was made to study the interactive effects between genotype and environment on green fodder yield.
