Recognition of species of Stylosanthes (Leguminosae). Study trip to Hainan Island, China

RICARDO O. VANNI

Pergamino

Conferencia; 9TH INTERNATIONAL HERBAGE SEED CONFERENCE; 2017

IHSG

This consultancy, which originated a trip to Hainan Island, arised from the need of CATAS (Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Science) technicians to obtain expert identifications of different species of Stylosanthes that they had incorporated and already had under cultivation. They are working with species like Stylosanthes guianensis and Stylosanthes scabra, South American species of very wide distribution, called in our latitudes the "alfalfas of the subtropics".Stylosanthes is a genus of intertropical distribution with some extratropical species that reach the province of Cordoba (Argentina) and Uruguay. The species present in Argentine flora are: S.guianensis, S. leiocarpa., S.nervosa, S.scabra, S.viscosa, S.macrosoma, S. montevidensis, S.rostrata and S.hippocampoides. There were taxonomic problems in the circumscription of the species, which were clarified in the revision of the genus for South America (in press) where 23 species and two varieties are defined. S. guianensis is cultivated as forage and it is of great interest in subtropical and intertropical regions. I was invited to visit CATAS, the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Science, at the island of Hainan (Southern China) in order to study and provide expert identification of the species of Stylosanthes that they had incorporated and already had under cultivation. CATAS had bought a technological package to CIAT, Colombia, including S.hamata, S. guianensis var. guianensis, S. guianensis var. gracilis, S. humilis, S. scabra. They are growing them as forage, protein suppliers. The best results were obtained with S. guianensis var guianensis, which they cultivate in great extensions, between lines of perennial crops.The handling of the forage includes cutting and grinding. It is used as a dry, balanced food with 10% protein, for goats, pigs, ducks, chickens and fishes.The major problem for the introduction of Stylosanthes to China is that is that the cultivation is not possible in continental China, because there are no areas where megatermic species can live.My contribution was to advise about the extratropical species that could be cultivated. I suggested S. hippocampoides and S. rostrata, species living in temperate regions so it would be possible to grow them on the continent. We are planning a collaborative publication in order to facilitate the knowledge of these species as well as their use and management