Theme 2-1: Forage Production and Utilization--Oral Sessions

Description

Since 1982 Embrapa Beef Catle in Campo Grande, MS, Brazil, develops a Panicum maximum Jacq. breeding program, based on the germplasm collected and assembled by IRD (Institut de Recherche pour le Developpment) and received through a cooperation-agreement with IRD. The germplasm was evaluated and four cultivars were released directly from the germplasm: cultivars Tanzania, Mombaça, Massai and BRS Zuri. Breeding began in 1990 and involved crosses between sexual plants and selected apomictic accessions. The program consists of evaluation followed by selection of hybrids in plots with replications, evaluation of the selected hybrids in national network experiments in diverse regions and then evaluation of the few selected hybrids under grazing. Hybrids are also evaluated for disease and insect resistances and abiotic stresses. Seeds are multiplied between each evaluation phase. The whole process takes from 10 to 20 years for the release of superior cultivars. Recently, Embrapa released two hybrid cultivars. BRS Tamani, a short, very leafy and high-tillering cultivar, and BRS Quênia, a medium height, very leafy productive cultivar. Both cultivars are recommended for medium to high fertility light soils, corrected for soil nutrients, and for rotationally grazed management. BRS Tamani, because of its short stature and quality is well indicated for cattle weaning. Both cultivars are tolerant to all the spittlebugs present in Brazil. They are not suited for waterlogged soils. Compared to the traditional cultivars in Brazil, these two cultivars showed improved digestibility and crude protein and greater animal daily gains and BRS Quênia also provided higher liveweight gain per area.

Share

COinS
 

BRS Quênia and BRS Tamani: New Panicum maximum Jacq. Hybrid Cultivars in Brazil

Since 1982 Embrapa Beef Catle in Campo Grande, MS, Brazil, develops a Panicum maximum Jacq. breeding program, based on the germplasm collected and assembled by IRD (Institut de Recherche pour le Developpment) and received through a cooperation-agreement with IRD. The germplasm was evaluated and four cultivars were released directly from the germplasm: cultivars Tanzania, Mombaça, Massai and BRS Zuri. Breeding began in 1990 and involved crosses between sexual plants and selected apomictic accessions. The program consists of evaluation followed by selection of hybrids in plots with replications, evaluation of the selected hybrids in national network experiments in diverse regions and then evaluation of the few selected hybrids under grazing. Hybrids are also evaluated for disease and insect resistances and abiotic stresses. Seeds are multiplied between each evaluation phase. The whole process takes from 10 to 20 years for the release of superior cultivars. Recently, Embrapa released two hybrid cultivars. BRS Tamani, a short, very leafy and high-tillering cultivar, and BRS Quênia, a medium height, very leafy productive cultivar. Both cultivars are recommended for medium to high fertility light soils, corrected for soil nutrients, and for rotationally grazed management. BRS Tamani, because of its short stature and quality is well indicated for cattle weaning. Both cultivars are tolerant to all the spittlebugs present in Brazil. They are not suited for waterlogged soils. Compared to the traditional cultivars in Brazil, these two cultivars showed improved digestibility and crude protein and greater animal daily gains and BRS Quênia also provided higher liveweight gain per area.