Abstract
Nineteen genotypes of bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss), 10 of high in vitro digestibility (IVD) and nine of low, were harvested at three stages of maturity in the field and two stages in the growth room. “Stems” (including leaf sheaths and heads) were divided into top and bottom portions, dried, ground, and analyzed for acid detergent fiber (ADF), lignin, cellulose, silica, total cell wall constitutents (CWC), and IVD. The IVD declined at the rate of one percentage unit/day from head emergence to headed stage and 0.5 percentage unit/day from headed stage to anthesis under field conditions. The top portion was approximately 4 to 8 units more digestible than the bottom. All cell wall components increased from head emergence until headed. From the headed stage to anthesis, lignin and silica increased, whereas, ADF, cellulose, and CWC declined. All cell wall components except silica were higher in the bottom portion than in the top. All cell wall components showed significant negative correlations with IVD, but lignin had the highest phenotypic and genotypic correlation coefficients followed by ADF. Lignin and ADF were positively correlated. Lignin content of the plant could be used as a criterion for selection for IVD.
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