Offered Papers Theme A: Efficient Production from Grassland

Description

Elephantgrass cultivars and introductions show practically no viable pure seeds and their uses in cultivated grasslands are exclusively dependent on vegetative propagation. Therefore, in large areas, sowing operation costs make unfeasible setting up new pastures. On the other hand, pearl millet is a high seed producer species though presenting some forage constraints (poor forage production, low regrowth potential after cutting or grazing and low field persistence). Recently, an hexaploid interespecific hybrid between the two species was developed (Schank & Diz, 1996), which is able to produce viable pure seeds, in variable amounts according to the genotype considered (Diz & Schank, 1995). This research aimed to check several seed quality parameters in two selected populations, derived from the original F2 interespecific hybrid population.

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Effects of a Recurrent Selection Scheme, Applied to an Interspecific Hybrid Pennisetum Purpureum Schum. (Elephantgrass) x Pennisetum Glaucum (L.) R. Br. Stuntz (Pearl Millet), on Several Seed Quality Parameters

Elephantgrass cultivars and introductions show practically no viable pure seeds and their uses in cultivated grasslands are exclusively dependent on vegetative propagation. Therefore, in large areas, sowing operation costs make unfeasible setting up new pastures. On the other hand, pearl millet is a high seed producer species though presenting some forage constraints (poor forage production, low regrowth potential after cutting or grazing and low field persistence). Recently, an hexaploid interespecific hybrid between the two species was developed (Schank & Diz, 1996), which is able to produce viable pure seeds, in variable amounts according to the genotype considered (Diz & Schank, 1995). This research aimed to check several seed quality parameters in two selected populations, derived from the original F2 interespecific hybrid population.