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Protein Degradability in a Diverse Array of Alfalfa Germplasm Sources
Author(s) -
Skinner D. Z.,
Fritz J. O.,
Klocke L. L.
Publication year - 1994
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/cropsci1994.0011183x003400050046x
Subject(s) - biology , germplasm , medicago sativa , forage , cultivar , agronomy , digestion (alchemy) , pasture , protein degradation , plant protein , ruminant , botany , food science , biochemistry , chemistry , chromatography
The shortcomings of alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) as a high quality forage include extensive ruminal degradation of the forage protein, sometimes with concomitant loss through ammonia formation. This study was conducted to determine if significant differences exist in the degradability of forage protein among nine basic alfalfa germplasm sources, and germplasms with epidermal glandular hairs from M. glandulosa David or M. glutinosa M.B. Inter‐ and intrapopulation variation of protein degradability was assessed by an in vitro test based on the extent of degradation by the proteolytic enzyme ficin. The rates of degradation were significantly different among the alfalfa lines, but the proportions of protein lost were equivalent after a 2‐h digestion. Intrapopulation variation, assessed with 10 plants from each of 10 sources, was quite high, suggesting that adapted cultivars with decreased protein degradability could be developed through conventional breeding methods, if selections were carried out on an individual plant basis.