Theme 2-3: Forage Production and Utilization--Poster Sessions

Description

Species and biotypes of the genus Tripsacum include: eastern gamagrass (T. dactyloides) in North and Central America; Guatemala grass (T. fasciculatum syn. T. andersonii) in Latin America and the West Indies; and wide-leaf gamagrass (T. latifolium) throughout Mesoamerica. Of these, Guatemala grass has become widely popular throughout the tropics as a fodder plant and for its benefits related to environmental and ecosystem services. Guatemala grass is a hearty, long-lived perennial warm-season bunchgrass. Mature plants are somewhat shallow rooted, with short rhizomes, and produce robust foliage with leaf blades 10cm wide and 120cm long. The species has been utilized for forage (for cut-and-carry and green feed during dry conditions), environmental management (as contour strips for soil erosion) and for wildlife (as both forage for megafauna and as refuge for pollinators) throughout Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania, and is often recommended as an alternative to Napiergrass (Cenchrus purpureus) because of its increased tolerance to drought. The major impediment to more widespread use of Guatemala grass extends from its tri-hybrid genetic origin, which causes plants to develop mostly sterile seed. This shortfall in seed production necessitates vegetative production of all stands. Rapid establishment and growth of vegetative propagules is of key importance to reduce competition from non-desirable weed species. Research in improvement breeding of other Tripsacum species may shed light on potential improvement mechanisms in Guatemala grass. Identification of sexually viable genotypes of Guatemala grass has the potential to rapidly increase gains in phenotypic quality through recurrent selection. Recent research in T. dactyloides has shown that nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is maximized through early season fertility, which may also increase the days to maturity, extending the quality lifespan of a stand. Also, selection for rapid seed germination has proven to shorten establishment time of T. dactyloides by more than 70%.

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Strategies to Decrease Management Inputs and Improve Quality of Tripsacum for Fodder Production and Ecosystem Services

Species and biotypes of the genus Tripsacum include: eastern gamagrass (T. dactyloides) in North and Central America; Guatemala grass (T. fasciculatum syn. T. andersonii) in Latin America and the West Indies; and wide-leaf gamagrass (T. latifolium) throughout Mesoamerica. Of these, Guatemala grass has become widely popular throughout the tropics as a fodder plant and for its benefits related to environmental and ecosystem services. Guatemala grass is a hearty, long-lived perennial warm-season bunchgrass. Mature plants are somewhat shallow rooted, with short rhizomes, and produce robust foliage with leaf blades 10cm wide and 120cm long. The species has been utilized for forage (for cut-and-carry and green feed during dry conditions), environmental management (as contour strips for soil erosion) and for wildlife (as both forage for megafauna and as refuge for pollinators) throughout Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania, and is often recommended as an alternative to Napiergrass (Cenchrus purpureus) because of its increased tolerance to drought. The major impediment to more widespread use of Guatemala grass extends from its tri-hybrid genetic origin, which causes plants to develop mostly sterile seed. This shortfall in seed production necessitates vegetative production of all stands. Rapid establishment and growth of vegetative propagules is of key importance to reduce competition from non-desirable weed species. Research in improvement breeding of other Tripsacum species may shed light on potential improvement mechanisms in Guatemala grass. Identification of sexually viable genotypes of Guatemala grass has the potential to rapidly increase gains in phenotypic quality through recurrent selection. Recent research in T. dactyloides has shown that nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is maximized through early season fertility, which may also increase the days to maturity, extending the quality lifespan of a stand. Also, selection for rapid seed germination has proven to shorten establishment time of T. dactyloides by more than 70%.