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Title: VARIATION OF CONDENSED TANNINS IN ROUNDHEAD LESPEDEZA GERMPLASM

Author
item Springer, Timothy
item MCGRAW, R. - UNIV. OF MISSOURI
item Aiken, Glen

Submitted to: Crop Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/17/2002
Publication Date: 11/1/2002
Citation: SPRINGER, T.L., MCGRAW, R.L., AIKEN, G.E. VARIATION OF CONDENSED TANNINS IN ROUNDHEAD LESPEDEZA GERMPLASM. CROP SCIENCE. 2002. V. 42(6). P. 2157-2160.

Interpretive Summary: Roundhead lespedeza, Lespedeza capitata Michx., is a deep-rooted, perennial legume native to the eastern and central United States and is relatively common on remnant upland prairies throughout the Midwest. Information on condensed tannin (CT) concentration from different plant parts of available germplasm is needed for cultivar development and also to provide data for developing management and feeding strategies. We analyzed the CT concentration from leaf, stem, and inflorescence from 39 roundhead lespedeza plant introductions grown in two environments and found that variation due to the environment was low, variation due to plant introduction (genotype) was high, and variation due to genotype x environment interaction was high. Of these 39 plant introductions we selected eight that were common to both environments and had low CT concentrations in leaves at flowering. The CT content of these plant introduction, however, was still relatively high when compared with other Lespedeza species that were bred for low tannin content.

Technical Abstract: Information on condensed tannin (CT) concentrations from different plant parts of roundhead lespedeza, Lespedeza capitata Michx., is needed for cultivar development and also to provide data for developing management and feeding strategies. The objectives were to determine variation of CTs concentrations in roundhead lespedeza leaves, stems, and inflorescences, evaluate genotype stability over environments, and select germplasm lines, common to both environments with low CT concentrations. Thirty-nine roundhead lespedeza plant introductions were sampled from replicated nurseries grown in two environments in 1996. Samples were collected at two growth stages (flowering and seed filling). Each plant sampled was divided into leaf, stem, and inflorescence and CT concentrations were determined using a modified vanillin/HCl method. We found that variation due to the environment was low, variation due to genotype was high, and variation due to genotype x environment interaction was high. Of these 39 plant introductions we selected eight that were common to both environments and had low CT concentrations in leaves at flowering. The CT content of these plant introduction, however, was still relatively high when compared with other Lespedeza species that were bred for low tannin content. Collections should be conducted from a larger geographical region to look for germplasm with lower CT concentrations.