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Basic Alfalfa Germplasms Differ in Nutritive Content of Forage
Author(s) -
Lenssen A. W.,
Sorensen E. L.,
Posler G. L.,
Harbers L. H.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.2135/cropsci1991.0011183x003100020012x
Subject(s) - germplasm , biology , forage , medicago sativa , agronomy , cultivar , medicago , dry matter , neutral detergent fiber , phenology , horticulture , botany , biochemistry , gene
Little information is available regarding comparative forage quality of alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) leaves and stems of the nine germplasms from which most North American cultivars have been developed. In a greenhouse trial, forage quality of leaves and stems of the nine germplasms was compared when grown in a common environment and harvested at the same phenological stage. Germplasm sources (and representative cultivar) tested were: Indian (Sirsa #9), African (African), Peruvian (Hairy Peruvian), Flemish (DuPuits), Turkistan (Lahontan), Chilean (Kansas Common), M. varia Martin (Grimm), Ladak (Ladak), M. falcata L. (Anik). Leaves of germplasm sources differed for concentrations of neutral detergent fiber, cellulose, crude protein, true in vitro digestible dry matter, and p ‐hydroxybenzaldehyde, vanillic, p ‐coumaric, ferulic, and sinapic acids. Stems of germplasm sources differed for concentrations of NDF, hemicellulose, CEL, TIVDDM, and p ‐hydroxybenzoic, syringic, p ‐coumaric, and ferulic acids. Results indicate that alfalfa germplasm sources differ in nutritive value of leaves and stems.