Native and naturalized forage plant genetic resources for saline environments of the southernmost portion of the American Chaco

J.F. PENSIERO; ZABALA J.M.; MARINONI L.; RICHARD G.A.

Saline and Alkaline Soils in Latin America

Spinger

Año: 2021;

The potential forage value of several of the species occurring in saline soils of Argentina, some of them endemic to this country, and particularly their genetic variability, have been recognized by breeders from many countries. Such recognition is confirmed by the fact that the accessions of these species are conserved in international germplasm banks specialized in exploration, collection and conservation of forage species. However, these species have been little studied in our country and, even worse, no germplasm is conserved in Argentina. The study of these species for the purposes of breeding and incorporation into agricultural systems is a hard and often discouraging task. Important basic knowledge necessary for breeding programs, such as flowering phenology, mode of reproduction, quantity and quality of produced seeds, presence or absence of seed dormancy, and seedling establishment, is lacking for most of the species. This chapter provides a list of species that should be given priority in programs for their incorporation into agricultural systems, discusses aspects that we consider essential for such programs, and presents experiences that have clearly demonstrated the feasibility of successfully incorporating wild forage species to cultivation.