Selection for late-flowering and greater number of basal branches increases the leaf dry matter yield in Melilotus albus Desr.

ZABALA J.M.; SCHRAUF G. E. ; BAUDRACCO J.; GIAVEDONI J.; QUAINO O.; RUSH P.

AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH

CSIRO PUBLISHING

Año: 2012 vol. 63 p. 370 - 376

0004-9409

Within the genus Melilotus, M. albus is recognized as one of the species with the greatest potential as a source of forage for ruminant animals in rangelands, particularly some of the cultivars of Melilotus collected in Argentina. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of selection in annual M. albus for late flowering on photoperiodical requirement and selection for late flowering and branching on forage yield. The results show that enough variation exists within the Argentine germplasm of annual types of M. albus, to develop improved cultivars. The longer vegetative stage observed in the improved populations would be the result of the selection of plants which require a higher photoperiod to flower. Selection for late-flowering and greater number of basal branches resulted in a population with higher leaf and relative leaf yield, which is positively associated with plant digestibility.