Flowering Phenology, Seed yield and its Quality in Palisade Grass [Brachiaria brizantha (A. Rich.)Stapf]
28 / 0
Authors
-
S. S. PARIHAR
Division of Grassland and Silvipasture, Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi - 284003
Author
-
ANJALI KAK
Division of Grassland and Silvipasture, Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi - 284003
Author
Keywords:
Brachiaria brizantha, seed yield, germination, flowering phenology, dormancy.Abstract
Studies on flowering phenology and component of spikelet yield in Brachiaria brizantha under rain grown condition revealed that initial head emergence (IHE) started in the first week of August after the start of monsoon initiated growth during June end. Head density peaked in the third week of August when seed shedding was on the way. Seed yield was 710 and 571 kg/ha/year in 1998 and 1999, respectively. Dual dormancy mechanism was evident as scarification of the rigid husk by H,SO, enhanced germination indicating coat-imposed dormancy due to the rigid husk. However, the effectiveness of dormancy breaking treatments (viz. H₂SO₄ + GA, H₂SO₄ + KNO3) was reduced after 12 months of storage suggesting another mechanism of dormancy also in operation (physiological dormancy), which was overcome during after- ripening in storage. Low seed setting (28-32%) and germination (18-25%) and immediate shattering of seeds suggest that prevailing climatic conditions of the site were not favorable for quality seed production.
Downloads
References
1. SKERMAN, P.J. & F. RIVEROS (1990). Tropical Grasses. FAO, Rome.
2. NARAYANAN, T.R. & P.M. DABADGHAO (1972). Forage Crops of India. ICAR, New Delhi.
3. BOR, N.L. (1960). Grasses of Burma, Ceylon, India and Pakistan. Pergamon Press, London.
4. CROWDER, L.V., & H.R. CHHEDA (1982). Tropical Grassland Husbandry, Longman, London.
5. HUMPHREYS, L.R. & F. RIVEROS (1986). Tropical pasture seed production, 3rd edn. FAO Plant Production and Protection Paper 8: Rome.
6. SIMPSON, G. M. (1990). Seed Dormancy in Grosses. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, U. K.
7. HILL, M. J. & D. S. LOCH (1993). Achieving potential herbage seed yield in tropical region. In: Grassland for Our World (ed.) M. J. Baker, SIR Publishing, Wellington, New Zealand, pp. 652-658.
8. PATHAK, P. S., S. S. PARIHAR & R. K. BHATT (2002). Problems and prospects of grass seed production in India. In: Souvenir- XI National Seed Seminar on Quality Seed to Enhance Agricultural Profitability (eds.) M. Sekhargouda & L. Krishna Naik, Indian Society of Seed Technology, New Delhi and UAS, Dharwad, pp.96-108.
9. PARIHAR, S. S. & P.S. TOMER (2001). Flowering phenology and pure germinating seed yield in gamba grass (Andropogon gayanus Kunth). Seed Sci. & Technol 29: 445-452.
10. PARIHAR, S. S, B. MAL, V. SHANKER & AΑ. ΚΑΚ (1998). Seed production and germination in vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizanioides (L.) Nash). Tropical Grassland. 32: 173-177.
11. PARIHAR S. S., A. KAK, D.SAHA & S.K.RAI (1999). Flowering phenology dispersal unit and germination studies in eight tropical perennial grasses. Trop. Ecol. 40: 27-32.
12. ELLIS, E.H., T.D. HONG, &E.H ROBERTS (1985). Handbook of Seed Technology for Genebanks Vol. I Principles and Methodology, IBPGR, Rome.
13. BOONMAN, J. C. (1980). Seed production of tropical grasses in Kenya. In: Seed Production (ed.) P. D. Hebblethwaite. Butterworths, London, pp.215-222.
14. PARIHAR, S. S. & R. SETH (2002). Effect of flowering phenology on seed quality of some fodder grasses. Seed Tech News 32: 62.
15. PARIHAR, S. S., V. SHANKAR & P. AGARWAL (1999). Seed production and seed germination in blue panic grass (Panicum antidotale Retz.). Trop. Ecol. 40: 75-78.
16. BOONMAN, J. C. (1993). East Africa's Grasses and Fodders: Their Eecology and Husbandry. Kluwar Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.
17. BUTLER, J. E. (1999). Seed testing. In: Forage Seed Production Vol. II: Tropical and Sub-tropical Species (eds.) D. S. Loch and J. E. Ferguson, CABI Publishing, Oxon, U. K, pp. 267-282.
18. PARIHAR, S. S. & K. C. KANODIA (1993). Germination and dormancy of Bothriochloa species. Range Mgmt & Agroforestry 14: 57-52.
19. WHITEMAN, P. C. & K MENDRA (1982). Effect of storage and seed treatments on germination of Brachiaria decumbens. Seed Sci. & Technol. 10:233-242.
20. MOTT, J. J. (1974). Mechanism controlling dormancy in arid zone grass Aristida contorta I Physiology and mechanism of dormancy. Aust J. Bot. 22: 635-645.
21. TUNWAR, N.S. & S. V. SINGH (1988). Indian Minimum Seed Certification Standards. Central Seed Certification Board, Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture, New Delhi.
22. SETH, R., S. P. RAO, R. BHATT & S. S. PARIHAR (2002). Grass seed quality: A critical appraisal of seed standards and testing protocols. Seed Tech News 32: 99-100.
23. SETH, R. & R. K. BHATT (2002). Pasture grass seed quality seed testing: A review with particular reference to India. Seed Res. 30: 1-17.
