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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Griffin, Georgia » Plant Genetic Resources Conservation Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #190111
Title: CYNODON DACTYLON (L): A VERY DYNAMIC SPECIES WITH EXTENSIVE VARIATION. I. GERMPLASM DIVERSITY

Author
item Harrison, Melanie
item Wang, Ming

Submitted to: American Society of Agronomy Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/10/2005
Publication Date: 11/10/2005
Citation: Harrison Dunn, M.L.(aka Newman, M.), Wang, M.L. 2005. Cynodon dactylon (l): a very dynamic species with extensive variation. i. germplasm diversity. In: Proceedings of the ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting, November 6-10, 2005, Salt Lake City, UT. 2005 CDROM.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The USDA warm-season grass germplasm collection located at the Plant Genetic Resources Conservation Unit in Griffin, GA contains 10 species of Cynodon, including C. aethiopicus; C. barberi; C. dactylon vars. afghanicus, aridus, coursii, and dactylon; C. hybrid; C. incompletus vars. hirsutus and incompletus; C. nlemfuenis vars., nlemfuensis and robustus; C. plectostachyus; C. radiatus; C. transvaalenis; and Cynodon X magennissi with the majority being C. dactylon (72%). The C. dactylon collection contains material collected from 37 different countries, mainly South Africa and Kenya. There are 430 active accessions of Cynodon sp. - 254 of which are currently available for distribution and 176 that are unavailable for distribution, but still present in the collection. The majority of the available accessions are maintained vegetatively - 218 accessions (89%). Descriptor data available on the Germplasm Resources information NEtwork (GRIN; www.ars-grin.gov/plants) is extremely limited at the present time. Effort is currently underway to develop and collect new descriptor data for the vegetative material and have this available on the GRIN website. Additionally, images are being collected for posting on GRIN. It is hoped that this effort will increase the usefulness of the germplasm by providing researchers with better information on which to base their selection of material.