Transcriptome Profiling Provides Insights into the Early Development of Tiller Buds in High- and Low-Tillering Orchardgrass Genotypes.

Orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) is among the most economically important perennial cool-season grasses, and is considered an excellent hay, pasture, and silage crop in temperate regions worldwide. Tillering is a vital feature that dominates orchardgrass regeneration and biomass yield. However, transcriptional dynamics underlying early-stage bud development in high- and low-tillering orchardgrass genotypes are unclear. Thus, this study assessed the photosynthetic parameters, the partially essential intermediate biomolecular substances, and the transcriptome to elaborate the early-stage profiles of tiller development. Photosynthetic efficiency and morphological development significantly differed between high- (AKZ-NRGR667) and low-tillering genotypes (D20170203) at the early stage after tiller formation. The 206.41 Gb of high-quality reads revealed stage-specific differentially expressed genes (DEGs), demonstrating that signal transduction and energy-related metabolism pathways, especially photosynthetic-related processes, influence tiller induction and development. Moreover, weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) and functional enrichment identified distinctively co-expressed gene clusters and four main regulatory pathways, including chlorophyll, lutein, nitrogen, and gibberellic acid (GA) metabolism pathways. Therefore, photosynthesis, carbohydrate synthesis, nitrogen efficient utilization, and phytohormone signaling pathways are closely and intrinsically linked at the transcriptional level. These findings enhance our understanding of tillering in orchardgrass and perennial grasses, providing a new breeding strategy for improving forage biomass yield.

Genetic Diversity, Analysis of Some Agro-Morphological and Quality Traits and Utilization of Plant Resources of Alfalfa.

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is one of the most important perennial forage crops to build effective diets for livestock producers. Forage crop improvement depends largely on the availability of diverse germplasms and their efficient utilization. The present investigation was conducted at Ismailia Agricultural Research Station to assess twenty-one alfalfa genotypes for yield components, forage yield and quality traits during 2019/2020 and 2020/2021. The genotypes were evaluated in field experiments with three replicates and a randomized complete block design, using analysis of variance, estimate of genetic variability, estimate of broad sense heritability (hb2) and cluster analysis to identify the inter relationships among the studied genotypes as well as principal component analysis (PCA) to explain the majority of the total variation. Significant differences were found among genotypes for all studied traits. The general mean of the studied traits was higher in the second year than the first year. Moreover, the combined analysis showed highly significant differences between the two years, genotypes and the year × gen. interaction for the traits studied. The genotype F18 recorded the highest values for plant height, number of tiller/m2, total fresh yield and total dry yield, while, the genotype F49 ranked first for leaf/stem ratio. The results showed highly significant variation among the studied genotypes for crude protein %, crude fiber % and ash %. Data revealed that the genotypes P13 and P5 showed the highest values for crude protein %, whereas, the genotype F18 recorded the highest values for crude fiber % and ash content. The results revealed high estimates of genotypic coefficient and phenotypic coefficient of variation (GCV% and PCV%) with high hb2, indicating the presence of genetic variability and effective potential selection for these traits. The cluster analysis exhibited considerable genetic diversity among the genotypes, which classified the twenty one genotypes of alfalfa into five sub-clusters. The genotypes F18, F49, K75, S35, P20, P5 and P13 recorded the highest values for all studied traits compared with other clusters. Furthermore, the PC analysis grouped the studied genotypes into groups and remained scattered in all four quadrants based on all studied traits. Ultimately, superior genotypes were identified can be utilized for crop improvement in future breeding schemes.

The First Genetic Map for a Psoraleoid Legume (Bituminaria bituminosa) Reveals Highly Conserved Synteny with Phaseoloid Legumes.

We present the first genetic map of tedera (Bituminaria bituminosa (L.) C.H. Stirton), a drought-tolerant forage legume from the Canary Islands with useful pharmaceutical properties. It is also the first genetic map for any species in the tribe Psoraleeae (Fabaceae). The map comprises 2042 genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) markers distributed across 10 linkage groups, consistent with the haploid chromosome count for this species (n = 10). Sequence tags from the markers were used to find homologous matches in the genome sequences of the closely related species in the Phaseoleae tribe: soybean, common bean, and cowpea. No tedera linkage groups align in their entirety to chromosomes in any of these phaseoloid species, but there are long stretches of collinearity that could be used in tedera research for gene discovery purposes using the better-resourced phaseoloid species. Using Ks analysis of a tedera transcriptome against five legume genomes provides an estimated divergence time of 17.4 million years between tedera and soybean. Genomic information and resources developed here will be invaluable for breeding tedera varieties for forage and pharmaceutical purposes.

Evaluación de sólidos solubles en recursos forrajeros del trópico alto en el departamento de Nariño / Evaluation of soluble solids in forage resources in the high tropics in the department of Nariño / Avaliação de sólidos solúveis em recursos forrageiros nos altos trópicos do departamento de Nariño

Resumen En los sistemas ganaderos de trópico alto colombiano, la estacionalidad forrajera, y el déficit energético de las dietas en bovinos, son las mayores limitantes para potencializar la productividad animal. El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar la concentración de sólidos solubles, en dos especies arbustivas perennes (Tithonia Diversifolia (T.d) y Sambucus Nigra (S.n), edad: 60 días (d) y dos variedades de ryegrass (Lolium perenne) Columbia y Samson (edad: 32d) en el Centro de investigación Obonuco de Agrosavia (Pasto-Nariño). Los datos fueron analizados bajo un diseño completamente al azar con arreglo de medida repetida tomando como unidad experimental las parcelas de evaluación tanto en las arbustivas como en las gramíneas. Se midió la concentración de sólidos solubles (%Ss), en tres horarios (7:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. y 3:00 p.m.), la composición nutricional y producción de biomasa; para el análisis se utilizó el software R V. 3.5.1 a través de ANAVA y pruebas de comparación de medias (tukey<0,05). Los datos indicaron mayor concentración (p<0,05) de Ss para S.n (12,5%) en comparación con las demás especies. Los mayores valores numéricos de Ss en todas las especies se presentaron en el horario de las 3:00 p.m. y los menores a las 7:30 a.m. A nivel nutricional hubo diferencia (p<0,05) para los carbohidratos no estructurales (CNE), siendo mayores para S.n (29,5%) respecto a T.d (25,4%). La producción de biomasa (MS/t/ ha/año), fue mayor (p<0,05) para T.d (22,8 t) respecto a S.n (11,4 t). Los resultados obtenidos de Ss para los recursos forrajeros evaluados son de gran importancia para estimar el valor energético de estos forrajes en alimentación animal.

Abstract In the livestock systems of the Colombian high tropics, the seasonality of forage, and the energy deficit of the diets of cattle, are the greatest limitations to the potential of animal productivity. The objective of the study was to evaluate the concentration of soluble solids in two perennial shrub species (Tithonia diversifolia and Sambucus nigra, age: 60 days (d) and two ryegrass varieties (Lolium perenne) Columbia and Samson (age: 32 d) at the Obonuco Research Center of Agrosavia (Pasto-Nariño). The data were analyzed under a completely randomized design with a repeated measurement arrangement taking as an experimental unit the evaluation plots in both shrubs and grasses. Soluble solids concentration (%Ss), nutritional composition and biomass production were measured in three time periods (7:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.). The analysis was performed using R V. 3.5.1 software through ANAVA and mean comparison tests (tukey<0.05). Data indicated higher concentration (p<0.05) of Ss for S.n (12.5%) compared to the other species. The highest numerical values of Ss in all species were presented at 3:00pm and the lowest at 7:30 a.m. At a nutritional level there was a difference (p<0.05) for non-structural carbohydrates (NSC), being higher for S.n (29.5%) than T.d (25.4%). The production of biomass (MS/t/ha/year), was higher (p<0.05) for T.d (22.8 t) with respect to S.n (11.4 t). The results obtained from Ss for the fodder resources evaluated are of great importance for estimating the energy value of these fodder products in animal feed.

Resumo Nos sistemas pecuários do alto trópico colombiano, a sazonalidade das forragens e o déficit energético das dietas do gado são as maiores limitações para o potencial de produtividade animal. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a concentração de sólidos solúveis em duas espécies de arbustos perenes (Tithonia diversifolia e Sambucus nigra, idade: 60 dias (d) e duas variedades de azevém (Lolium perenne) Columbia e Sansão (idade: 32 d) no Centro de Pesquisa Obonuco de Agrosavia (Pasto-Nariño). Os dados foram analisados sob um desenho completamente aleatório com um arranjo de medição repetida tomando como unidade experimental as parcelas de avaliação tanto em arbustos como em gramíneas. A concentração de sólidos solúveis (%Ss), composição nutricional e produção de biomassa foram medidas em três períodos de tempo (7:30 h, 11:30 h e 15:00 h). A análise foi realizada utilizando o software RV. 3.5.1 através do ANAVA e testes de comparação de médias (tukey<0,05). Os dados indicaram maior concentração (p<0,05) de Ss para S.n (12,5%) em comparação com as outras espécies. Os valores numéricos mais altos de Ss em todo as espécies foram apresentados às 15:00 h e os mais baixos às 7:30 h. A nível nutricional houve diferença (p<0,05) para carboidratos não estruturais (NSC), sendo maior para S.n (29,5%) do que para T.d (25,4%). A produção de biomassa (MS/t/ha/ano), foi maior (p<0,05) para T.d (22,8 t) em relação ao S.n (11,4 t). Os resultados obtidos com os Ss para os recursos forrageiros avaliados são de grande importância para estimar o valor energético desses produtos forrageiros na alimentação animal.

Analysis of the genitor origin of an intergeneric hybrid clone between Zea and Tripsacum for forage production by McGISH.

In this study, the chromosome number and composition of a novel perennial forage crop, 'Yucao No. 6' (Yu6), was revealed by chromosome spread and McGISH (multicolor genomic in situ hybridization) techniques to clarify its genitor origin. Cytogenetic analysis showed that Yu6, which has 56 chromosomes, is an aneuploid representing 12, 17 and 27 chromosomes from Zea mays ssp. mays L. (Zm, 2n = 2x = 20), Tripsacum dactyloides L. (Td, 2n = 4x = 72), and Z. perennis (Hitchc.) Reeves & Mangelsd. (Zp, 2n = 4x = 40), respectively. This finding indicates that Yu6 is the product of a reduced egg (n = 36 = 12Zm + 17Td + 7Zp) of MTP (a near-allohexaploid hybrid, 2n = 74 = 20Zm + 34Td + 20Zp) fertilized by a haploid sperm nucleus (n = 20Zp) of Z. perennis. Moreover, 3 translocated chromosomes consisting of the maize-genome chromosome with the segment of Z. perennis were observed. These results suggest that it is practical to develop perennial forage maize by remodeling the chromosomal architecture of MTP offspring with Z. perennis as a pollen parent. Finally, the overview of forage breeding in the Zea and Tripsacum genera was discussed.

Prioritisation of native legume species for further evaluation as potential forage crops in water-limited agricultural systems in South Africa.

In the face of climate change, identification of forage species suitable for dryland farming under low rainfall conditions in South Africa is needed. Currently, there are only a limited number of forage species suitable for dryland farming under such conditions. The objective of this study was to identify and prioritise native legume species that could potentially be used in dryland farming systems in water-limited agro-ecosystems in South Africa. Using a combination of ecological niche modelling techniques, plant functional traits, and indigenous knowledge, 18 perennial herbaceous or stem-woody legume species were prioritised for further evaluation as potential fodder species within water-limited agricultural areas. These species will be evaluated further for their forage quality and their ability to survive and produce enough biomass under water limitation and poor edaphic conditions.