Indian Society of Genetics & Plant Breeding
Cultivated forage legumes and range legumes are crucial
for the nutritional security for mankind as they are integral
component for increased availability of animal protein and
product which has higher biological value than the plant
proteins. Genetic improvement programme in forages in
general and forage legumes in particular could not gain
due impetus probably due to the nature of the crop and
also because the economically important plant part is
vegetative biomass. Although crop specific objectives need
to be taken care of, forage legumes have some common
problems and possible strategies. In the present article,
common issues as well as crop specific improvement issues
are discussed. The common improvement objectives
include utilization of plant genetic resource and broadening
genetic base; enhancing digestive quality; tolerance to
abiotic and biotic stress; quality seed production in
cultivated species while specific features such as increased
persistence, tolerance to abiotic stresses, easy
establishment, good seeding ability and grazing tolerance
among range species. Developing terminal drought
tolerant, early maturing, pest tolerant and erect type
Cowpea; drought tolerant dual purpose Guar; moisture
stress tolerance with standing ability and harvestability,
disease/pest resistance and tolerance to herbicide in field
pea and forage pea; short duration, resistance to biotic
stress and low b-ODAP content in grass pea; drought and
biotic stress tolerance in addition to increased biomass
yield in Rice bean, perennial soybean, Vicia sativa, Faba
bean; improved drought tolerance, anthracnose resistance,
nutritional parameters such as high methionine and
regenerative potential in Stylosanthes; high tillering quick
regeneration, cold and drought tolerance, diseases and
pest resistance in Lucerne and broadening genetic base,
improved first cut yield, root rot and stem rot resistance
and dry matter content in Egyptian clover could be some of
the objective in major crops.
Keywords: Forage legumes, range legumes, palatability, forage seed, livestock nutritive value
Year: 2016
Volume: 76
Issue: 4
Article DOI: 10.5958/0975-6906.2016.00076.6
Print ISSN: 0019-5200
Online ISSN: 0975-6906
A. K. Roy info_circle
D. R. Malaviya info_circle
P. Kaushal info_circle
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