Forage Potential of Non-Native Guinea Grass in North African Agroecosystems: Genetic, Agronomic, and Adaptive Traits

Mohamed Ali Benabderrahim,Walid Elfalleh

doi:10.3390/agronomy11061071

Mohamed Ali Benabderrahim, Walid Elfalleh

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11061071

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Abstract

Guinea grass (Panicum maximum Jacq., renamed Megathyrsus maximus Jacq.) is a native forage plant in Africa of great economic value, but it was introduced in almost all tropical countries as a source of animal forage. Over the last decade, it was introduced in North arid regions of Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt) through authorized and unauthorized ways. It has two reproduction modes through sexual and apomictic ways. Besides its ability to provide high nutritive forage, guinea grass could affect the oases agroecosystems diversity due to its genetic aspects (apomixis and autotetraploidy) and eco-physiological traits (allelopathy effect and resistance to abiotic stress). That is why a review of genetic and eco-physiologic aspects of guinea grass is essential to investigate its potential introduction and management in new regions, particularly in arid and semiarid zones. In this paper, we review the most important traits of this plant that should be considered (polyploidy, apomixis, allelopathic effect, drought and salinity resistance, and invasion) for the potential success of guinea grass in integrated systems of forage/livestock.

Highlights

Allelopathic EffectAn invasive species is an introduced organism that negatively affects its new environment through different ways, such as allelopathy
Guinea grass was previously known as Panicum maximum Jacq
We review the most important traits of this plant that should be considered

Summary

Allelopathic Effect

An invasive species is an introduced organism that negatively affects its new environment through different ways, such as allelopathy. Despite the extensive research on the allelopathic compounds in the Poaceae species [2,4], little documentation has reported the allelopathy effect of guinea grass in literature. In the arid regions of the Middle East and North Africa, when it was newly introduced, the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) was the most cultivated tree and is considered the key ecological and economic plant in the oasis agroecosystems [53]. The potential allelopathy of guinea grass on this target tree should be urgently studied and considered. Guinea grass and the main crops of the oasis agroecosystem, such as alfalfa (or date palm trees), to underline any potential allelopathy. It is crucial to study the activity type of guinea grass as a donor plant and its target species in combined crops.

Apomixis and Polyploidy Levels

Diverse gene pools according species and

Guinea Grass and Drought

Guinea Grass and Salinity

Findings

Conclusions