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

This Article Figures Only Full Text Free Full Text (PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (17) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Das, M. K. Articles by Taliaferro, C. M. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Das, M. K. Articles by Taliaferro, C. M. Agricola Articles by Das, M. K. Articles by Taliaferro, C. M. Related Collections Crop Growth and Development Other Forage Crops Crop Genetics

CROP BREEDING, GENETICS & CYTOLOGY

Genetic Variability and Trait Relationships in Switchgrass

^a Dep. of Plant & Soil Sciences, Oklahoma State Univ., Stillwater, OK 74078
^b Dep. of Agronomy & Plant Genetics, Univ. of Minnesota, 411 Borlaug Hall, St. Paul, MN 55108

^* Corresponding author (dmodan{at}mail.pss.okstate.edu).

Greater knowledge of the magnitude of genetic variability for biomass yield and yield components in switchgrass, Panicum virgatum L., and relationships among the biomass yield component traits would facilitate the breeding improvement of the species. Accordingly, we conducted two replicated experiments to assess genetic variation for biomass yield and yield components and quantify relationships among those traits in different switchgrass populations. In Exp. 1, 228 half-sib families from SU C₃ and 261 from NU C₃ populations were evaluated at Perkins, OK, while 278 half-sib families from the SL C₀ population were evaluated at Stillwater, OK. Exp. 2 comprised 11 lowland switchgrass populations tested at Chickasha and Perkins, OK, in 1998. Substantial differences (P < 0.01) in biomass yield per plant existed among half-sib families within the respective SU C₃, NU C₃, and SL C₀ populations. Estimates of genetic variance for biomass yield were significant for each population. However, significant family x year and family x block variance estimates indicated substantial environmental influence in each of the populations. In Exp. 2, significant (P 0.05) variation existed among the 11 populations over locations for biomass yield per plant, tiller number per plant, tiller length, leaf blade length, and leaf blade width. Phenotypic correlation between biomass yield and tiller number per plant was positive (r = 0.68* at Chickasha and r = 0.60* at Perkins). Path coefficient analyses revealed that number of tillers per plant had the highest positive direct effect on biomass yield at both locations (0.74 at Chickasha and 0.66 at Perkins). Adequate genetic variability was present within the switchgrass populations to allow breeding improvement of biomass yield. Selection for increased number of tillers per plant would be the most effective means of indirectly increasing biomass yield.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. Boe and D. L. Beck Yield Components of Biomass in Switchgrass Crop Sci., July 1, 2008; 48(4): 1306 - 1311. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. Q. Wu, C. M. Taliaferro, D. L. Martin, J. A. Anderson, and M. P. Anderson Genetic Variability and Relationships for Adaptive, Morphological, and Biomass Traits in Chinese Bermudagrass Accessions Crop Sci., September 1, 2007; 47(5): 1985 - 1994. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Boe and D. K. Lee Genetic Variation for Biomass Production in Prairie Cordgrass and Switchgrass Crop Sci., May 31, 2007; 47(3): 929 - 934. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]