Analysis of genetic diversity for biomass production and related traits unveils possible morphophysiological mechanisms underlying forage productivity in Leptochloa crinita.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Leptochloa crinita is a native forage grass from arid and semi-arid regions of the Americas, typically used for range grazing. Forage biomass productivity (FBP) and drought tolerance are important traits exhibiting broad intraspecific variation. To investigate possible morphophysiological mechanisms underlying FBP, we monitored biomass production, both total and partitioned into different above-ground and underground plant parts, total (LA) and specific leaf area (SLA), stomatal conductance (g_s), and SPAD index in a genetically-diverse L. crinita germplasm collection of 21 accessions during two years of field experiments under unrestricted water availability.

Results

Broad and significant variation (p < 0.0001) was consistently found among the accession

SUBMITTER: Dominguez DLE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12910748 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature