Publication Date
1985
Description
Panicum maximum cv. 'Coloniiio' is the most popular tropical forage grass in terms of cattle finishing in Brazil. It is, however, slowly being substituted by other species, because of its high demands for nutrients and poor dry season growth. The National Beef Cattle Research Center of EMBRAPA at Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, has underway a P. maximum breeding program, with the objectives of selecting cultivars which while maintaining the good qualities of the 'Coloniiio', are more drought-resistant and adapted either to the traditional fertile soils of 'Coloniiio', or to weak cerrado (savanna) soils. Preliminary results on seed production and dry season dry matter yield of 156 P. maximum accessions evaluated in 1984 are reported. Much variability for both parameters was observed. Seed production varied from 1 to 26.6 g pure seeds/m2. Only 17.3% of the accessions produced more than 14.2g/m2, the mean for 'Coloniiio'. For dry season leaf dry-matter yield, values varied from 27 .6 to 988.3 g/m2 with fertilization, and from 17 .0 to 694.9 g/m2 without fertilization. However, 90% of the accessions produced more than the means for 'Coloniiio', which were 67.4 and 53.3 g/m2 respctively with and without fertilization. Seed production was found to be the main limiting factor in selection. As a result of this evaluation, 23 accessions were selected to compose a first regional farm trial on fertile traditional 'Coloniiio-type' soils. Five accessions were selected for agronomic evaluation under grazing. Another year's evaluation is necessary before selecting those which will compose the regional farm trials on weak cerrado soils.
Citation
Jank, L and Savidan, Y H., "Selection for Seed Production and Dry Season Forage Yield in Panicum maimum Germplasm" (2025). IGC Proceedings (1989-2023). 7.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1989/session14/7
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Selection for Seed Production and Dry Season Forage Yield in Panicum maimum Germplasm
Panicum maximum cv. 'Coloniiio' is the most popular tropical forage grass in terms of cattle finishing in Brazil. It is, however, slowly being substituted by other species, because of its high demands for nutrients and poor dry season growth. The National Beef Cattle Research Center of EMBRAPA at Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, has underway a P. maximum breeding program, with the objectives of selecting cultivars which while maintaining the good qualities of the 'Coloniiio', are more drought-resistant and adapted either to the traditional fertile soils of 'Coloniiio', or to weak cerrado (savanna) soils. Preliminary results on seed production and dry season dry matter yield of 156 P. maximum accessions evaluated in 1984 are reported. Much variability for both parameters was observed. Seed production varied from 1 to 26.6 g pure seeds/m2. Only 17.3% of the accessions produced more than 14.2g/m2, the mean for 'Coloniiio'. For dry season leaf dry-matter yield, values varied from 27 .6 to 988.3 g/m2 with fertilization, and from 17 .0 to 694.9 g/m2 without fertilization. However, 90% of the accessions produced more than the means for 'Coloniiio', which were 67.4 and 53.3 g/m2 respctively with and without fertilization. Seed production was found to be the main limiting factor in selection. As a result of this evaluation, 23 accessions were selected to compose a first regional farm trial on fertile traditional 'Coloniiio-type' soils. Five accessions were selected for agronomic evaluation under grazing. Another year's evaluation is necessary before selecting those which will compose the regional farm trials on weak cerrado soils.
