Breeding and evaluation of Digitaria eriantha for improved spring yield and seed production

Abstract

Digitaria eriantha is a subtropical grass which is widely sown as a pasture species in South Africa and cultivars have recently been released in Australia . The species is variable in seed production and in other agronomic attributes . This paper describes a breeding program designed to combine the seed production of cv. Premier with the high productivity in winter-spring of an almost sterile genotype .Hybrids between the two accessions were either triploid and sterile, or diploid with low fertility . The F2 to F5 generations were selected intensively for fertility and, at two contrasting sites, for spring productivity, with both maternal and paternal selection . The F6 generation was grown as replicated swards and yield in spring, and fertility, were used for selection of elite F 5 plants to comprise the parents of a new cultivar (cv . Advance).In evaluation trials, spring dry matter production of Advance averaged 40% higher than that of Premier . On average, seed production of Advance was 11% lower than that of Premier and botanical fertility was consistently about half that of Premier . Experimental yields of cleaned seed of Advance were up to 138 kg/ha . In commerce, seed yields of Advance are likely to be lower than those of Premier unless higher inflorescence densities than Premier can be achieved .

Pangola grass as forage for ruminant animals: a review

“…Since that time it has been introduced widely to Central- and South-America, Australia, West Africa, the Pacific Islands and tropical Asia (Nestel and Creek 1962 ). Pangola is recommended for the poorly drained soils in Malaysia and the Philippines and is tolerant of flooding (Hacker 1992 ).…”