GENETIC ANALYSIS OF HETEROSIS FOR TOTAL CRUDE PROTEIN AND DIGESTIBLE DRY MATIER IN GUINEA GRASS

Abstract

Diallel cross analysis for tetraploid populations revealed that only nonadditive variance played a role in the inheritance of total crude protein (TCP) and digestible dry matter (DDM) per plant in guinea grass (Panieum maximum Jacq.) which indicated that crosses among sexual and apomictic clones should be attempted for improvement of these traits. Heterosis over the best parent P39 ranged from-47.2 to 8.6% forTCPand from -46.5 to20.7% for DDM, whereas heterosis over the commercial check, PGG19, varied from -18.9 to 66.9% for TCP and from -36.3 to 43.6% for DUM.