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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Crop Genetics and Breeding Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #196252
Title: Registration of large, erect Pensacola bahiagrass germplasm lines T18 and T23

Author
item BURTON, G - USDA-ARS (DECEASED)
item Anderson, William - Bill

Submitted to: Journal of Plant Registrations
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/14/2007
Publication Date: 1/15/2008
Citation: Burton, G.W., Anderson, W.F. 2008. Registration of large, erect Pensacola bahiagrass germplasm lines T18 and T23. Journal of Plant Registrations. 2:51-52.

Interpretive Summary: T18 and T23 are forage bahiagrass germplasm lines developed by the restricted recurrent phenotypic selection for high individual plant yields. They have value as parents in development of high yielding bahiagrass cultivars for pasture and hay production. Individual plants were taller and had greater diameter than Pensacola bahiagrass when spaced 18 cm apart. Plants of T18 and T23 were more erect than Pensacola or Tifton 9 bahiagrasses. Mature plants of T18 and T23 had fewer branches (8.0 and 6.3, respectively) than Tifton 9 (9.2) in field comparisons of 100 individual spaced plants in 2005. Branch angles greater for T18 (46o) and T23 (55o) than for Tifton 9 (34 o) indicating the more erect plant type. Plant heights and leaf lengths were greater for T18 and T23 than Tifton 9. However, leaf width of the germplasm lines were less than Tifton 9. Flower heads have generally three racemes. Raceme lengths of T18 and Tifton 9 were similar, whereas T23 racemes were shorter.

Technical Abstract: Pensacola bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flügge) germplasm lines T18 and T23 have larger more erect plant phenotypes with higher individual plant yields than Pensacola. They have value as parents in development of high yielding bahiagrass cultivars for pasture and hay production. T18 and T23 are a result of eighteen and twenty-three cycles of recurrent restricted phenotypic selection (RRPS), respectively, for individual plant size and yield from Pensacola. For each cycle, 20% of 1000 space-planted selections were selected based upon aboveground herbage accumulation. Inflorescences with roots attached from selected plants were placed together in a common vessel filled with water in isolation. Inflorescences were shaken each morning to ensure inter-pollination. Seed produced were used for the next cycle in the greenhouse and transplanted to the field for selection the following spring. Individual plant dry matter yield, plant height and plant diameter were all significantly greater (p= 0.05) than Pensacola bahiagrass when compared in replicated field studies of plants spaced 18 cm apart. Plants of T18 and T23 had a more erect plant ideotype than Pensacola or Tifton 9 bahiagrasses. Mature leaves of T18 and T23 had significantly fewer culms (8.0 and 6.3, respectively) than Tifton 9 (9.2) in field comparisons of 100 individual spaced plants in 2005. Culm angles from horizontal or prostrate (i.e. 0 %) were significantly greater for T 18 (46o) and T 23 (55o) than for Tifton 9 (34 o) indicating the more erect plant type. Plant heights and leaf lengths were greater for T18 and T23 than Tifton 9. However, leaf width of the germplasm lines were less than Tifton 9. Flower heads have generally three racemes. Raceme lengths of T18 and Tifton 9 were similar, whereas T23 racemes were shorter.