Temperate Forage Research Articles

Successional changes in bacterial phyllosphere communities are plant-host species dependent.

Leaf surface microbiomes have the potential to influence agricultural and ecosystem productivity. We assessed their stability by determining composition, functional resistance, and resilience. Resistance is the degree to which communities remain unchanged as a result of disturbance, and resilience is the ability of a community to recover to pre-disturbance conditions. By understanding the mechanisms of community assembly and how they relate to the resistance and resilience of microbial communities under common environmental stresses such as drought, we can better understand how communities will adapt to a changing environment and how we can promote healthy agricultural microbiomes. In this study, phyllosphere compositional stability was highly related to plant host species phylogeny and, to a lesser extent, known stress tolerances. Phyllosphere community assembly and stability are a result of complex interactions of ecological processes that are differentially imposed by host species.

Tall fescue tiller survival over summer in a subtropical environment: The role of the size and depth of root systems

AbstractPasture persistence is a key determinant of the economic and environmental performance of pastoral animal production systems. Large and deep root systems that help resist summer water stress have been proposed as a relevant trait for vegetative persistence of perennial temperate forage species growing in subtropical climates or under future climatically challenging scenarios. In a previous study [Jauregui et al., 2017. Persistence of tall fescue in a subtropical environment: Tiller survival over summer in response to flowering control and nitrogen supply. Grass and Forage Science 72, 454–466] we have shown that nitrogen fertilization and grazing management aimed at ‘control flowering’ increased the survival of tall fescue tillers during harsh summers in Uruguay (lat. 32°S). Here we assessed: (i) to what extent tiller survival is mediated by root system size in spring and (ii) what consequences tiller survival entails for root mass, depth and morphology the following autumn. In two field experiments, significant increases in tiller survival in response to nitrogen fertilization and grazing management (+60% and +80% in 2011/12 and 2012/13, respectively) were not related to concomitant effects on the size or depth of the root system in spring (p > .10). Even when six‐fold within‐treatment variation in root mass was observed, within‐treatment variation in summer tiller survival was little affected (<15%, p = .08). In turn, differences in tiller survival over summer affected little root system characteristics the following autumn. Therefore, we found scant support for the hypothesis that large and deep root systems contribute to survival of tall fescue tillers in this subtropical humid climate. Except for soils with less than 30 mm of plant available water holding capacity, summer water deficits did not induce severe tiller mortality in tall fescue in this climate.

A century of weed change in New Zealand’s forage seed multiplication industry

International seed trading provides a significant introductory pathway for weed seeds, and many globally established weeds originated as contaminants in agricultural seed lots. Management of these trade systems helps minimize agricultural losses and is an important means of preventing future biological incursions. Forage crop seed lots could be considered higher risk than seed lots of arable and vegetable crops, as they have been found to have a higher percentage of contaminated seed lots. Two of the most commonly used temperate forage crops worldwide are perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and white clover (Trifolium repens). New Zealand is one of the top producers of these crop seeds globally, and both species are commonly used in New Zealand pastures. Using historical and current seed lot analytical purity test results, we examined the frequency, identity and temporal changes of weed seeds found within agricultural seed lots of perennial ryegrass and white clover grown in New Zealand from 1912 to 2019. Overall, the percentage of contaminated forage seed lots decreased between approximately three to sixfold over the study period, indicating that herbicide availability, seed certification and improved crop management have been effective for weed control. However, we identified a handful of annual weed species that could become more problematic in the future, either because they showed an increasing presence trend in seed lots or were identified as the most common contaminants. In 2019, Vulpia bromoides was the most common contaminant in perennial ryegrass seed lots, and Chenopodium album was the most common in white clover seed lots. Sherardia arvensis and Poa annua, both significant species with an increasing presence trend, had the largest increases in perennial ryegrass seed lots over the study period. Conversely, Rumex acetosella had the largest presence decline for both crop species. There was a significant difference between the percentage of contaminant species that were grass weeds between study crops, where perennial ryegrass seed lots had approximately four times more grass species than white clover. Considering New Zealand trades crop seed with approximately half of the world’s countries and contributes substantially to the global supply of forage seed, our study provides a unique insight into changes of the weed spectrum throughout the seed for sowing system over the last century.

Performance of young endophyte-free and endophyte-infected tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) plants under partial and total submergence

Context Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) is a valuable temperate forage grass. Tall fescue plants associated with Epichloë fungal endophytes are successfully spreading in grassland regions that are recurrently exposed to flooding. Aims We asked whether the association with fungal endophytes increases plant performance under water excess. Methods In a greenhouse experiment, we evaluated the differential performance of young endophyte-infected and endophyte-free tall fescue plants in response to 14 days of partial and total submergence. We included a wild local population and a cultivar, each with their respective fungal endophyte: the common endophyte and a safe (non-toxic) endophyte (AR584). Key results Relative to control (non-submerged) plants, and regardless of endophyte status, total submergence resulted in a significant growth reduction. At the end of the partial submergence period, the number of leaves per plant increased (21%) in the presence of the safe endophyte AR584 but decreased (18%) in the presence of the wild endophyte. Moreover, under partial submergence, the presence of wild endophyte decreased pseudostem dry weight by 10%. Conclusions Our results show that the presence of either the wild or the safe endophyte did not increase the performance of young tall fescue plants under submergence conditions. Implications Although all endophyte-free and endophyte-infected tall fescue plants survived submergence treatments, we cannot rule out that Epichloë endophytes might improve plant fitness under longer stressful submergence conditions. Future research should explore how endophytes modulate host performance under water excess, considering different phenological plant phases and/or co-occurrence with other stress factors (e.g. high temperatures).

Leaf Mycobiome and Mycotoxin Profile of Warm-Season Grasses Structured by Plant Species, Geography, and Apparent Black-Stroma Fungal Structure.

Grasses harbor diverse fungi, including some that produce mycotoxins or other secondary metabolites. Recently, Florida cattle farmers reported cattle illness, while the cattle were grazing on warm-season grass pastures, that was not attributable to common causes, such as nutritional imbalances or nitrate toxicity. To understand correlations between grass mycobiome and mycotoxin production, we investigated the mycobiomes associated with five prominent, perennial forage and weed grasses [Paspalum notatum Flügge, Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers., Paspalum nicorae Parodi, Sporobolus indicus (L.) R. Br., and Andropogon virginicus (L.)] collected from six Florida pastures actively grazed by livestock. Black fungal stromata of Myriogenospora and Balansia were observed on P. notatum and S. indicus leaves and were investigated. High-throughput amplicon sequencing was applied to delineate leaf mycobiomes. Mycotoxins from P. notatum leaves were inspected using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Grass species, cultivars, and geographic localities interactively affected fungal community assemblies of asymptomatic leaves. Among the grass species, the greatest fungal richness was detected in the weed S. indicus. The black fungal structures of P. notatum leaves were dominated by the genus Myriogenospora, while those of S. indicus were codominated by the genus Balansia and a hypermycoparasitic fungus of the genus Clonostachys. When comparing mycotoxins detected in P. notatum leaves with and without M. atramentosa, emodin, an anthraquinone, was the only compound which was significantly different (P < 0.05). Understanding the leaf mycobiome and the mycotoxins it may produce in warm-season grasses has important implications for how these associations lead to secondary metabolite production and their subsequent impact on animal health. IMPORTANCE The leaf mycobiome of forage grasses can have a major impact on their mycotoxin contents of forage and subsequently affect livestock health. Despite the importance of the cattle industry in warm-climate regions, such as Florida, studies have been primarily limited to temperate forage systems. Our study provides a holistic view of leaf fungi considering epibiotic, endophytic, and hypermycoparasitic associations with five perennial, warm-season forage and weed grasses. We highlight that plant identity and geographic location interactively affect leaf fungal community composition. Yeasts appeared to be an overlooked fungal group in healthy forage mycobiomes. Furthermore, we detected high emodin quantities in the leaves of a widely planted forage species (P. notatum) whenever epibiotic fungi occurred. Our study demonstrated the importance of identifying fungal communities, ecological roles, and secondary metabolites in perennial, warm-season grasses and their potential for interfering with livestock health.

Relationship between Temperate Grass Sward Characteristics and the Grazing Behavior of Dairy Heifers

Sward architecture mediates ruminant grazing behavior in temperate grazing lands. Temperate grasses differ in their sward structure, which may influence the grazing behavior of cattle. We determined relationships between the grazing behavior of dairy heifers and the sward structure of the following temperate grasses: meadow fescue (Schedonorus pratensis (Huds.) P. Beauv.), orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), quackgrass (Elymus repens (L.) Gould), and reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.). Vegetative-stage grasses were rotationally grazed by Holstein heifers (average initial body weight of 460 kg) during 5 day periods in the spring, summer, and fall of 2007 and 2008. The herbage dry matter (DM) allowance was twice the expected daily intake (11 kg DM animal−1 d−1). The sward characteristics were measured before grazing (e.g., the herbage height and mass, vertical distribution of leaf and stem fraction, and nutritive value). The grazing behavior of the heifers was quantified using automatic jaw movement recorders. In this study, the grass species had little effect on the grazing behavior. However, the bite rate was negatively correlated with the herbage mass, while the number of bites was positively correlated with the sward height and herbage mass. These results suggest that when herbage availability is not limited, grazing dairy heifers exhibit similar ingestive and rumination behavior across grass species and seasons, yet jaw movement dynamics may respond to the different characteristics of the swards. The results of this study provide the following benefits: (1) they inform managers about the jaw movement mechanics that can be expected of dairy heifers in temperate forage systems, showing that they are not limited by herbage allowance, and (2) they provide insight for future studies that employ on-animal sensors to evaluate foraging dynamics and animal performance outcomes in temperate forage pasture systems.

Vegetation‐related influences on carbon and water dynamics of two temperate forage crops

AbstractImproving understanding of how water use efficiency (WUE), evapotranspiration (ET), and gross primary productivity (GPP) (CO2 exchange) vary across agricultural systems can help farmers better prepare for an uncertain future due to climate change by assessing water requirements for a crop as a function of current environmental conditions. This study: (a) quantified field‐scale plant–water–carbon dynamics for silage maize (Zea mays L.) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) crops – two dominant forage crops in southern Ontario, Canada; and (b) identified differences in plant carbon–water dynamics between these two crops, relating these differences to vegetation‐driven ecosystem controls. Climate and soil properties were similar between the two study sites, and water availability was not limiting, suggesting that the overall temporal differences in carbon–water relations were driven by vegetation differences, mainly crop choice and management practices. Alfalfa had greater seasonal GPP, ET, and WUE than maize, due to a longer growing season. Differences in daily WUE between maize and alfalfa were driven by differences in GPP rather than ET. Multiple harvests reduced leaf‐aging effects and promoted periods of rapid growth in alfalfa. In contrast, late seedling emergence and self‐shading reduced GPP in maize. Under a warmer future climate, crop selection (i.e., perennial vs. annual), harvest regimes, and changes in growing season length should be considered when trying to manage for increased WUE. However, longer duration studies to validate these results are required to better address the impacts of climatic variability—especially antecedent conditions—to better inform future crop choices within a climate change context.

Defoliation Frequencies of Forage Legumes: Effects on Yield and Nutritive Value for Beef Cattle Production

A study was conducted to determine the effect of cutting frequencies for 2 temperate (Trifolium pratense and Trifolium repens) and 2 tropical (Stylosanthes guianensis and Centrosema molle) forage legumes on dry matter yield and nutritive value for beef cattle production in a cool tropical environment of Jos, Nigeria. It was a factorial experiments with four forage legumes and three defoliation frequencies (4 x 3) making twelve treatments combinations arranged in a randomized complete block design and replicated four times. The study was conducted in 2016 and 2017. The result showed that total dry matter yield (DMY) was higher (p&lt;0.05) in T. pratense in 2017 (3.06 t/ha), while C. molle produced least DMY (1.01 t/ha). The temperate species performed better after each cut in DMY. Crude protein content was higher (p&lt;0.05) in T. repens (26. 12 %) at the third cut. The tropical species were higher (p&lt;0.05) in fibre contents. Dry matter intake (3.88 %), digestible dry matter (71.24 %) , total digestible nutrients (70.2 %) and relative feed value (214.53) were all higher (p&lt;0.05) in T. repens at third cut. The temperate forage legumes generally showed more resilience to cuttings compared to the tropical species. Therefore the crops can be grown in the cool tropical environment of Jos, Nigeria as supplementary forage feeds.

Cloning and in silico characterization of cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase gene involved in lignification of Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.).

Tall fescue, a promising temperate forage grass of Himalayan region, possesses extraordinary property of rapid growth with high biomass production, but its poor digestibility due to higher lignin content limits its utilization in livestock feeding. The lignification in Tall fescue is under the control of enzymatic cascade of different regulatory enzymes. Cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD) is a crucial regulatory enzyme that catalyzes the last step of monolignol biosynthesis and is a potential candidate for altering the content and types of lignin, and hence increasing the digestibility of fodder crops. Hence, the present investigation was conducted on isolation, cloning and characterization of CAD gene from Tall fescue. Isolation and amplification of CAD gene resulted in an amplicon of 1521bp. The CAD gene sequence was submitted to NCBI database with an accession number MW442831. Translation of the CAD gene sequence exhibited an ORF of 361 amino acids. The deduced CAD protein was predicted to be hydrophobic, acidic and thermally stable with molecular formula C1712H2734N460O520S23, molecular mass of 38.82kDa, theoretical pI of 5.60 and 3 strong transmembrane helices. The CAD protein was predicted to have a dimer forming behavior with putative NAD(P) binding site between amino acids 48 and 301, putative substrate-binding site between amino acids 48 and 301, catalytic zinc-binding site between amino acids 48 and 164 and structural zinc-binding site between amino acid residue 101 and 115. A conserved 189GLGGVG194 motif is the binding site for NADP(H). The conserved motif pattern of CAD's zinc catalytic center was found to be 69GHEVVGEV(X)EVG(X)2V83. The zinc-binding site was found to be conserved between amino acid 89 and 115 and was found to be 89G(X)2VG(X)G(X)2VGXC(X)2C(X)2C(X)5QYC115. The deciphered sequence and putative protein information might be useful in subsequent research in lignin bioengineering for enhanced digestibility, biomass conversion as well as impact of lignin on cell wall mechanics.

Ingestive behavior of Angus yearling steers in natural grassland subjected to fertilization and over sown of temperate species

The objective was to evaluate the ingestive behavior of Angus yearling steers grazing natural grasslands of Southern Brazil, submitted or not to the application of fertilizers: NG= natural grassland; FNG= fertilized natural grassland, and FONG= fertilized natural grassland improved with the over sown of temperate forage species. Three Angus yearling steers and a variable number of put-and-take animals were used per experimental unit, to maintain a forage allowance of 13 kg of dry matter/100 kg of body weight. Ingestive behavior of tester animals was visually assessed in four seasons of the year through instantaneous records of activity every ten minutes during the daytime period. There was no effect of pasture treatments on ingestive behavior. An interaction between seasons and periods of the day was observed for daily grazing and rumination time (P &lt;0.05). The grazing activities were clustered at the beginning and the end of the day in summer, autumn and winter, while in spring it was similar in the 1st three quarters of the day, with higher activity in the period close to sunset. The animals spent more time grazing in the spring despite the better quality of forage in this season. Regardless of the season, longer residence and grazing time were found in water foci areas. We conclude that grazing time on natural pastures is influenced by forage mass and forage allowance, and bite rate is influenced by the chemical composition of the sward

Effects of extreme summer heat events on nutritive characteristics of dairy pastures in northern Victoria, Australia

Context The incidence of extreme heat events (prolonged temperatures above 35°C) is increasing in the northern Victorian dairying region in Australia. This increase is having a significant effect on the performance of perennial ryegrass, which has traditionally been the major perennial species in these pastures. Aim During seven extreme heat events, forage sampling was conducted on commercial farms to evaluate the effects of high temperatures on the nutritive characteristics of perennial ryegrass, tall fescue and lucerne. Our hypothesis was that reductions in nutritive characteristics with an increasing external temperature would vary among species. Methods Before, during and after heat events, replicated samples of the three forage species were collected and analysed for in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF), water soluble carbohydrates (WSC) and crude protein (CP). Several anti-nutritive compounds (alkaloids in perennial ryegrass, and saponins and coumestrols in lucerne) were also measured. Key results None of the temperate forage species evaluated maintained nutritive quality under high temperatures. Linear mixed model (LMM) analyses showed that for each degree rise between 23°C and 40°C, IVDMD and WSC concentrations decreased by 0.2% while NDF and ADF concentrations increased by 0.2% and 0.15% respectively. Concentrations of the alkaloid, ergovaline, in the base of the perennial ryegrass tiller were close to, or above, the recommended threshold level for animal health and welfare in three of the six samples taken during heat events. Conclusions These results suggest that extreme heat events have a detrimental effect on the nutritive characteristics of the evaluated forage species. Implications Heat-induced decreases in nutritive characteristics will potentially have serious implications for milk production and farm productivity. Further research, undertaken under controlled conditions of temperature, humidity and plant growth stage, is recommended to determine the full effect of these extreme summer conditions on forage nutritive characteristics.

Large Inter- and Intraspecies Variability of Polyphenols and Proanthocyanidins in Eight Temperate Forage Species Indicates Potential for Their Exploitation as Nutraceuticals.

Substantial efforts have been made in incorporating tannin-rich forages into grassland-based livestock production systems. However, the structural and functional diversity of tannins in different species limits their potential use at the field scale. We conducted a greenhouse experiment with 17 cultivars from 8 forage species and their cultivars. Ultraperformance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry was used to analyze their polyphenolic profile and proanthocyanidin (PA) structural features in leaves. Our results highlight large inter- and intraspecies variability of plants in terms of polyphenol and tannin concentrations in the leaves. A concomitant and significant variation was also registered in the structural features of PA-rich forages such as the mean degree of polymerization and prodelphinidin percentage. The concentration of PA also varied within plant organs; the highest concentration was in flowers, but leaves had the highest contribution to harvestable PA biomass. Our research highlights that identifying these variations helps in identifying the representativeness of bioactivity and provides the basis for targeted breeding programs.

EVALUACIÓN NUTRICIONAL IN VITRO DE AVENA NEGRA (Avena strigosa) EN PASTOREO Y ENSILADO EN SISTEMAS DE PRODUCCIÓN DE LECHE EN PEQUEÑA ESCALA

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background. &lt;/strong&gt;Evaluate the nutritional quality of forages is fundamental and to do different techniques are used including &lt;em&gt;in vitro&lt;/em&gt; gas production. &lt;strong&gt;Objetive. &lt;/strong&gt;In this paper, gas production technique was used to estimate &lt;em&gt;in vitro &lt;/em&gt;digestibility and fermentation kinetics in &lt;em&gt;Avena strigosa&lt;/em&gt;. &lt;strong&gt;Methodology.&lt;/strong&gt; The work consisted of two experiments, in experiment 1, forage composed of black oat regrowth (AN) and black oat regrowth associated with red clover (ANT) was compared with a multi-species of temperate pastures (PME). In experiment 2, black oat silage (EAN) was evaluated in comparison to two multi-species grasslands composed of temperate climate grasses (PME-1 and PME-2). &lt;strong&gt;Results. &lt;/strong&gt;In experiment 1 the PC content was different (P &amp;lt;0.05). The estimated digestibility and metabolizable energy of gas production were not different (P&amp;gt; 0.05). In vitro gas production was not different (P&amp;gt; 0.05) for any of the variables. In experiment 2, differences (P &amp;lt;0.05) were observed in the contents of CP, NDF, ADF, however, the digestibilities and metabolizable energy were not different (P&amp;gt; 0.05). Regarding &lt;em&gt;in vitro&lt;/em&gt; gas production, there were no differences (P&amp;gt; 0.05) in any of the evaluated parameters (soluble fraction (A), fermentation rate of fraction A (C1); slow fermentation fraction (B); rate fermentation time of fraction B (C2) and fermentation time of fraction B (&lt;em&gt;lag&lt;/em&gt;). &lt;strong&gt;Implications. &lt;/strong&gt;The results of this study allow us to know the best way the nutritional assessment of black oats. &lt;strong&gt;Conclusions. &lt;/strong&gt;It is concluded that the forage of the oat regrowth has a different behaviour since it has more slowly fermentable carbohydrates compared to the forage composed of temperate grasses (experiment 1). In experiment 2, the compound temperate forage grasses and oats silage similar nutritional value was similar.&lt;/p&gt;

Agronomic fitness of three temperate forage grasses divergently selected for lignin concentration or ferulate cross-linking

Agronomic fitness of three temperate forage grasses divergently selected for lignin concentration or ferulate cross-linking

Phyllosphere Community Assembly and Response to Drought Stress on Common Tropical and Temperate Forage Grasses.

Grasslands represent a critical ecosystem important for global food production, soil carbon storage, and water regulation. Current intensification and expansion practices add to the degradation of grasslands and dramatically increase greenhouse gas emissions and pollution. Thus, new ways to sustain and improve their productivity are needed. Research efforts focus on the plant-leaf microbiome, or phyllosphere, because its microbial members impact ecosystem function by influencing pathogen resistance, plant hormone production, and nutrient availability through processes including nitrogen fixation. However, little is known about grassland phyllospheres and their response to environmental stress. In this study, globally dominant temperate and tropical forage grass species were grown in a greenhouse under current climate conditions and drought conditions that mimic future climate predictions to understand if (i) plant host taxa influence microbial community assembly, (ii) microbial communities respond to drought stress, and (iii) phyllosphere community changes correlate to changes in plant host traits and stress-response strategies. Community analysis using high-resolution sequencing revealed Gammaproteobacteria as the dominant bacterial class, which increased under severe drought stress on both temperate and tropical grasses while overall bacterial community diversity declined. Bacterial community diversity, structure, and response to drought were significantly different between grass species. This community dependence on plant host species correlated with differences in grass species traits, which became more defined under drought stress conditions, suggesting symbiotic evolutionary relationships between plant hosts and their associated microbial community. Further understanding these strategies and the functions microbes provide to plants will help us utilize microbes to promote agricultural and ecosystem productivity in the future. IMPORTANCE Globally important grassland ecosystems are at risk of degradation due to poor management practices compounded by predicted increases in severity and duration of drought over the next century. Finding new ways to support grassland productivity is critical to maintaining their ecological and agricultural benefits. Discerning how grassland microbial communities change in response to climate stress will help us understand how plant-microbe relationships may be useful to sustainably support grasslands in the future. In this study, phyllosphere community diversity and composition were significantly altered under drought conditions. The significance of our research is demonstrating how severe climate stress reduces bacterial community diversity, which previously was directly associated with decreased plant productivity. These findings guide future questions about functional plant-microbe interactions under stress conditions, greatly enhancing our understanding of how bacteria can increase food security by promoting grassland growth and resilience.

Endozoochorous seed dispersal of glyphosate-resistant Lolium multiflorum by cattle

AbstractLolium multiflorum, one of the most important temperate forage grasses in the world, is used in integrated crop-livestock systems and as a cover crop. However, it is also one of the main weeds in winter crops. The continuous use of glyphosate to manage this species has led to the selection of resistant biotypes (LOLMU-R), making it important to prevent the dispersal of these seeds. This study aimed to assess the recovery and germination of LOLMU-R that have passed through the digestive system of cattle. The experiments were carried out in metabolism cages, using a completely randomized design with six replications. The animals were given 12 112 seeds each, which were recovered from their faeces over a period of 6 days. Germination of the recovered seeds was assessed in a germination chamber and compared against a control (no animal passage). After germination, a glyphosate dose-response curve was constructed. The results obtained showed a total recovery of 1109 seeds (9.1%), with maximum recovery 2 days after ingestion, decreasing to almost zero on day 6. Germination declined linearly as a function of recovery time; however, 4 days after ingestion, germination potential was 18%. The dose-response curve proved the resistance of the recovered seeds. Cattle is a dispersal agent for LOLMU-R seeds, with animals requiring 7 days of quarantine before moving from one infested area to another.

Characterization and practical use of self-compatibility in outcrossing grass species.

BackgroundSelf-incompatibility (SI) systems prevent self-fertilization in several species of Poaceae, many of which are economically important forage, bioenergy and turf grasses. Self-incompatibility ensures cross-pollination and genetic diversity but restricts the ability to fix useful genetic variation. In most inbred crops it is possible to develop high-performing homozygous parental lines by self-pollination, which then enables the creation of F1 hybrid varieties with higher performance, a phenomenon known as heterosis. The inability to fully exploit heterosis in outcrossing grasses is partially responsible for lower levels of improvement in breeding programmes compared with inbred crops. However, SI can be overcome in forage grasses to create self-compatible populations. This is generating interest in understanding the genetical basis of self-compatibility (SC), its significance for reproductive strategies and its exploitation for crop improvement, especially in the context of F1 hybrid breeding.ScopeWe review the literature on SI and SC in outcrossing grass species. We review the currently available genomic tools and approaches used to discover and characterize novel SC sources. We discuss opportunities barely explored for outcrossing grasses that SC facilitates. Specifically, we discuss strategies for wide SC introgression in the context of the Lolium–Festuca complex and the use of SC to develop immortalized mapping populations for the dissection of a wide range of agronomically important traits. The germplasm available is a valuable practical resource and will aid understanding the basis of inbreeding depression and hybrid vigour in key temperate forage grass species.ConclusionsA better understanding of the genetic control of additional SC loci offers new insight into SI systems, their evolutionary origins and their reproductive significance. Heterozygous outcrossing grass species that can be readily selfed facilitate studies of heterosis. Moreover, SC introduction into a range of grass species will enable heterosis to be exploited in innovative ways in genetic improvement programmes.

Evaluation of high yielding temperate perennial forages for augmenting forage resources in ladakh (India)

The present study was conducted in a community pastureland of Spituk Monastery, Leh (Ladakh) from 2013 to 2015 to evaluate some temperate forage grasses/legumes and their mixtures grown in the interspaces of Salix plantation with a spacing of 4 m × 4 m. The experiment comprised of 13 treatments laid out in a randomized block design with each treatment replicated three times using a plot size of 12 m × 12 m. The results revealed that alfalfa had maximum value of sward height (62.5 cm), which was at par with treatment alfalfa grown in mixture with Dactylis + tall fescue + sainfoin. However, plant cover was maximum (75.6-85.6%) in mixture treatments as compared to sole grass or legume treatments (20.4-80.6%). Maximum green (9.87 t ha-1) and dry fodder yield (2.68 t ha-1) was observed in Dactylis + tall fescue + sainfoin + alfalfa treatment, which was at par with tall fescue + alfalfa treatment. The mean values for plant height, collar diameter, diameter at breast height, number of branches and leaf yield were 1.79 m, 21.2 mm, 16.1 mm, 5.32 and 66.72 dry matter kg ha-1, respectively. The study suggests that tall fescue, Dactylis, red clover and sainfoin hold great promise as intercrop in Salix-based silvipastoral systems for augmenting the fodder needs in the region.

Germination percentage and emergence potential of nine newly introduced temperate forage germplasms in Shika, Nigeria

A trial was conducted to investigate the germination percentage and emergence potential of nine imported temperate forage germplasms at the National Animal Production Research Institute, Shika, Nigeria. The seeds consisted of seven grasses namely; Beefsteak plant (Fructus perillae), Sweet elephant grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides), Wild foxtail millet (Setaria viridis), Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum), King grass (Pennisetum sinese), Chinese sorghum (Sweet sorghum) and Zea mexican schard (Purus frumentum) and two legumes namely; Chinese woad (Isatis tinctoria) and Chinese alfalfa (Medicago sativa). A laboratory germination test and pot emergence trial was carried out to ascertain their viability. The result of the experiment showed that Sweet elephant grass, napier grass and king grass recorded over 90 % germination and the least was 30 % in Chinese sorghum. Chinese alfalfa and wild foxtail millet had least germination percentage with 100 % Seed dormancy.Highest emergence rate, seedling length and seedling vigour indexwere observed in king grass than the other forage germplasms. The highest percentage emergence was obtained in king grass &gt; sweet elephant grass &gt; napier grass &gt; Zea mexican schard &gt; beefsteak plant &gt; Chinese woad &gt; Chinese sorghum, respectively. It was concluded that these forages can successfully be adopted as animal feed resources in Nigeria and therefore, recommended formulti-locational trials in all the ecological zones of the country.

Assessment of forage brassica species for dairy and beef-cattle fall grazing systems

ABSTRACT Objectives In temperate environments of the United States, winter forage management has traditionally necessitated either (a) feeding conserved forages or (b) stockpiling grazeable perennial forage. Forage brassicas might offer a low-cost alternative to these strategies. This project evaluated different annual forage brassicas in a temperate forage fall production system. Materials and Methods Three brassicas, Barsica forage rape (Brassica napus L.), Inspiration canola (B. napus L.), and Appin turnip (B. rapa L.) were compared against KB Supreme annual ryegrass [(Lolium multiflorum Lam.) ARG] for DM yield and nutritive value over 2 fall seasons. Plot sizes were 5.5 × 9.1 m and seeded in August of 2015 and 2016 in a randomized complete block design with 4 replications. Harvests occurred at 2-wk intervals in 2015 and 2016. Results and Discussion Brassica DM yields (734 to 861 kg of DM/ha) were greater (P Implications and Applications Brassicas had greater DM and nutrient yields, allowing for twice as many potential grazing days as ARG, thereby conceivably extending the grazing season with high-quality forage and reducing feeding costs.