Publication Date
1989
Description
After many experiments of introduction and evaluation of tropical forage grasses, it is known nowadays, which genera and species produce well and show adaptation to the specific soil and climatic conditions of the different regions of Brazil. One of the widely used species especially for finishing cattle, is P. maximum Jacq.
The Brazilian agricultural research corporation (EMBRAPA) introduced germplasm of P. maximum from Africa, in an attempt to bring variability into the country, aiming at selection and release of new, more productive cultivars, therefore increasing pasture diversification. This introduced P. maximum germplasm was collected by Orstom (Combes and Pernes, 1970) in East Africa, centre of diversification of the species and is representative of the genetic variability of the natural populations. This variability has been clearly confirmed through the range of variation on agronomic performance (Jank et al., 1989) and great polymorphism (Costa et al., 1988) displayed by the accessions. The objectives of the morphological evaluation of this germplasm were to identify and eliminate replicates that might exist in the germplasm since its collection ; furnish a detailed description of the selected accessions, which are being evaluated in national network trials and will be released to farmers ; and organize the accessions in distinct morphological groups. This organization may help interpret the agronomic performance of the accessions in their initial evaluation stage, and should assist in subsequent stages of selection and improvement of promising accessions.
Citation
Costa, J.C G.; Savidan, Y H.; Jank, L; and Castro, L.H R., "Morphological Studies as a Tool for the Evaluation of Wide Tropical Forage Grass Germplasms" (2025). IGC Proceedings (1989-2023). 46.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1989/session3/46
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Morphological Studies as a Tool for the Evaluation of Wide Tropical Forage Grass Germplasms
After many experiments of introduction and evaluation of tropical forage grasses, it is known nowadays, which genera and species produce well and show adaptation to the specific soil and climatic conditions of the different regions of Brazil. One of the widely used species especially for finishing cattle, is P. maximum Jacq.
The Brazilian agricultural research corporation (EMBRAPA) introduced germplasm of P. maximum from Africa, in an attempt to bring variability into the country, aiming at selection and release of new, more productive cultivars, therefore increasing pasture diversification. This introduced P. maximum germplasm was collected by Orstom (Combes and Pernes, 1970) in East Africa, centre of diversification of the species and is representative of the genetic variability of the natural populations. This variability has been clearly confirmed through the range of variation on agronomic performance (Jank et al., 1989) and great polymorphism (Costa et al., 1988) displayed by the accessions. The objectives of the morphological evaluation of this germplasm were to identify and eliminate replicates that might exist in the germplasm since its collection ; furnish a detailed description of the selected accessions, which are being evaluated in national network trials and will be released to farmers ; and organize the accessions in distinct morphological groups. This organization may help interpret the agronomic performance of the accessions in their initial evaluation stage, and should assist in subsequent stages of selection and improvement of promising accessions.
