Phenotypic and genetic variability induced in Lehmann’s love grass (&lt;i&gt;Eragrostis lehmanniana&lt;/i&gt;) through gamma irradiation

Alan Álvarez-Holguín,Carlos R Morales-Nieto,Raúl Corrales-Lerma,Federico Villarreal-Guerrero,Carlos H Avendaño-Arrazate

doi:10.17138/tgft(10)63-68

Abstract

This study assessed the morphological and nutritional diversity induced through gamma irradiation in Lehmann’slove grass. Seed were irradiated at doses of 0, 100, 200, 300, 450, 600, 900, and 1400 Gy. Ten agronomic traits relatedwith forage quality were evaluated and used to select the mutants, which were confirmed by cluster analysis andmultivariate analysis of variance and then characterized by nutritional and molecular characterization. Mutants with16–20% less (p<0.05) lignin and 36–68% more protein content than the control genotype were found. Genetic distances of 0.38 and 0.49 also revealed differences (p<0.05) between the mutants and control genotype. The phenotypic and genetic variability, induced through gamma irradiation, resulted in the identification of two first generation mutants with outstanding agronomic traits and nutritional quality.

Highlights

Mutants with 16–20% less (p
Lehmann’s love grass (Eragrostis lehmanniana Nees.), which is native to Africa, has been used to revegetate degraded grasslands due to its excellent establishment capacity in areas where native plants cannot be established (McGlone and Huenneke 2004)
These new genotypes with a higher acceptance by cattle could be used to revegetate highly degraded areas, where the native vegetation cannot be established, with a lower risk of invasiveness

Summary

Introduction

Lehmann’s love grass (Eragrostis lehmanniana Nees.), which is native to Africa, has been used to revegetate degraded grasslands due to its excellent establishment capacity in areas where native plants cannot be established (McGlone and Huenneke 2004). It is invasive and the use of this grass is ecologically risky because it can be Tropical Grasslands-Forrajes Tropicales (ISSN: 2346-3775). The main cause of Lehmann’s love grass invasiveness may be due to low consumption of the mature grass by cattle (Chávez et al 2000). Individuals from apomictic seeds are genetically identical to the maternal plant, indicating that populations established in the Americas may have low genetic variability. If diversity could be induced, Lehmann’s love grass could be included in a breeding programme to increase its forage quality and its acceptability by cattle

Methods

Results

Conclusion