HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Watson, C. E. Articles by Matches, A. G. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Watson, C. E., Jr. Articles by Matches, A. G. Agricola Articles by Watson, C. E. Articles by Matches, A. G.

Genetic Variation for Perloline, N, and Digestibility in Tall Fescue¹

Fifteen single-crosses of a six-parent diallel of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacae, Schreb.) were evaluated for perloline concentration, N content, and in vitro digestibility. The crosses were planted at Corvallis, Oregon, and Columbia, Missouri, and harvested on 8 Apr. and 22 Sept. 1975 at Corvallis and on 16 Oct. 1975 at Columbia. The data were analyzed as two experiments. Experiment I consisted of the two harvests at Corvallis and experiment II consisted of the harvests of 22 September at Corvallis and 16 October at Columbia. Both experiments were analyzed for perloline concentration and N content, but only experiment II was analyzed for in vitro digestibility. General (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) were significant sources of variation for perloline concentration. SCA indicated some nonadditive gene action for perloline concentration. There were differences between environments as well as genotype x environment interactions in both experiments. GCA was a significant source of variation for nitrogen content in each experiment. However, environmental differences were larger than genetic differences. No differences were found among the crosses for in vitro digestibility, but there was a rather large difference between the two locations. It appeared that digestibility could be improved more by management than by selection in this population.

Key Words: Festuca arundinacae Schreb. • combining ability • Genotype x environment interaction • Alkaloids • Nutritive quality • Diallel analysis

² Former graduate research assistant (now assistant professor of agronomy, Mississippi State Univ., Mississippi State, MS 39762); professors of agronomy, Dep. of Agronomic Crop Science, Oregon State Univ., Corvallis OR 97331; associate professor of agronomy and research agronomist, ARS, USDA, Univ. of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65201.

Received for publication April 18, 1977.