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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Griffin, Georgia » Plant Genetic Resources Conservation Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #255563
Title: Earliness, morphological, and reproductive variation among 16 sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea L.) accessions in Griffin, GA

Author
item Morris, John - Brad
item CHASE, CARLENE - University Of Florida
item CHO, A - University Of Florida
item KOENIG, R - University Of Florida
item MORALES-PAYAN, J - University Of Puerto Rico

Submitted to: Association for the Advancement of Industrial Crops Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/21/2010
Publication Date: 9/18/2010
Citation: Morris, J.B., Chase, C.A., Cho, A.H., Koenig, R.L., Morales-Payan, J.P. 2010. Earliness, morphological, and reproductive variation among 16 sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea L.) accessions in Griffin, GA. Association for the Advancement of Industrial Crops Conference. Ft. Collins, CO. Sept. 18-22, 2010.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea L.) is a leguminous species used for cover cropping in subtropical and tropical countries. It has great potential as a new crop in the southeastern U.S. because of its ability to supply follow-up crops with adequate nitrogen levels for rotated crop sustenance. However, little is known about its capacity to be grown in the Piedmont region near the Griffin, GA geographic area. The objectives of this study were to evaluate 16 sunn hemp accessions for biomass, apical dominance, open flowers, plant height, earliness, branching, and seed production variability in Griffin, GA. Seedlings from 16 sunn hemp greenhouse grown accessions were transplanted to field plots arranged in a split plot design during May through August 2008 and 2009 at Griffin, GA. Main plots were planting dates and subplots were sunn hemp accessions. Sunn hemp accessions were evaluated for biomass, apical dominance, branching, open flowers, earliness, plant height, and seed reproduction afer 2 – 6 months from greenhouse planting. Significant variability occurred for all trains evaluated among the 16 sunn hemp accessions. Accessions PI 250486, PI 314239, PI 322377, and PI 391567 produced significantly more seed earlier during both years than most of the other accessions. Higher leaf area accumulating accessions included PI 234771, PI 248491, PI 561720, and PI 295851 during both years. An earlier planting date (May) was superior to later planting dates (June and July) especially for seed production. Leaf area and primary lateral branches were significantly higher among sunn hemp accessions during the earliest planting date. These accessions can be used as breeding material for development of superior sunn hemp cultivars for use in the southeastern U.S.A.