Morphological, phenological and reproductive trait analysis for the pasture species, siratro (Macroptilium atropurpureum)
2010
Morris, J.B.
Variation in agronomic traits among 66 siratro (Macroptilium atropurpureum) accessions being regenerated in Byron and Griffin, GA, USA during May-June 2000, 2005 and 2007-2008 was measured. At 50% maturity, individual plants of the accessions were evaluated for branching, foliage growth, height, diameter, days to maturity (DTM) and seed numbers. Most accessions displayed prolific branching and foliage growth. Accessions exhibiting early maturity (96 DTM) and high seed production (averaging 2429 seeds per accession) included PI 451726, PI 543331 and PI 543380. The Australian accession, PI 543332, matured later (121 DTM) than the above accessions but produced slightly smaller plants and the highest number of seeds (4480). The coefficient of variation was 109% for DTM and 169% for seed number, indicating high variability for these traits. Potential exists to develop cultivars which would mature early and produce high seed numbers. These accessions require further field evaluation in the south-eastern USA for pasture value (production and persistence) under grazing conditions and variation among the remaining 82 accessions in the collection should also be examined when the opportunity arises, possibly during regeneration cycles.
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