The development of modern genomic tools has helped accelerate genetic gains in the breeding program of food crops. More recently, genomic resources have been developed for tropical forages, providing key resources for developing new climate-resilient high-yielding forage varieties. In this study, we present a genome-wide association study for biomass yield and feed quality traits in buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris L. aka Pennisetum ciliare L.). Genome-wide markers, generated using the DArTSeq platform and mapped onto the Setaria italica reference genome, were used for the genome-wide association study. The results revealed several markers associated with biomass yield and feed quality traits. A total of 78 marker–trait associations were identified with R² values ranging from 0.138 to 0.236. The marker–trait associations were distributed across different chromosomes. Of these associations, the most marker–trait associations (23) were observed on Chr9, followed by Chr5 with 12. The fewest number of marker–trait associations were observed on Chr4 with 2. In terms of traits, 17 markers were associated with biomass yield, 24 with crude protein, 26 with TDN, 14 with ADF, 10 with NDF and 6 with DMI. A total of 20 of the identified markers were associated with at least two traits. The identified marker–trait associations provide a useful genomic resource for the future improvement and breeding of buffel grass.

The objective was to determine the forage production and nutritional quality of six buffel grass ecotypes in vegetative and physiological maturity stages. The experiment was carried out at the Los Cañones Experimental Station in Zacatecas, Mexico. The ecotypes were as follows: E-42, E-45, E-66, E-72, E-S245, and the Titan variety as a control. The experiment design was a completely randomized block with three replications, and the evaluation years were from 2020 to 2022. The variables measured were as follows: plant height (PH), dry matter yield (DMY), leaf (Lf) and stem-inflorescence (St), crude protein (CP), neutral (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF). Pearson’s correlation and a combined analysis of variance were performed for each growth stage. A correlation analysis showed significant relationships (p < 0.05) between variables. In the vegetative stage, ecotypes E-42, E-45, and E-S45 showed accumulations of over 12% of CP, which were higher (p < 0.05) than the ones for Titan. Low values of E-S245 (p < 0.05) for NDF (63.44%) and ADF (44.49%) stood out among all ecotypes. In the maturity stage, Titan was surpassed by E-45 and E-S245 with CP higher than 4%. The neutral and acid fibers in E-42, E-45, and E-S245 were less than in Titan (p < 0.05). Ecotypes E-42 and E-S245 are alternatives to improve feed efficiency in the dry subtropical climate of Zacatecas.

La evaluación productiva y bromatológica de especies forrajeras de temporal en climas semisecos es esencial para la toma de decisiones de agricultores y el mantenimiento de los sistemas mixtos de producción. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar las características agronómicas y bromatológicas de maíz, sorgo, avena y girasol de temporal en clima semiseco de México. Las siembras se realizaron durante el 2021 y 2022. Se utilizó un diseño de bloques completos al azar con cuatro repeticiones, en donde las variables evaluadas fueron altura de planta (AP), materia seca (MS), forraje seco (FS), proteína cruda (PC), fibra detergente neutra (FDN) y digestibilidad in vitro de la materia seca (DIVMS). Todas las variables presentaron diferencias significativas. El sorgo presentó mayor AP (2,67 m) y FS (12,1 t ha-1) que el maíz, girasol y avena que promediaron AP 2,36, 2,15, y 1,27; y FS 9,63, 6,14, y 4,14, respectivamente. La PC () fue mayor en el girasol que promedió 12,82, seguido de la avena (9,2), maíz (7,5) y el sorgo (5,7). La FDN fue menor en girasol, promediando 41%. El sorgo promedió 25 más rendimiento t ha-1 que el maíz, y presentó un ciclo de dos años por rebrote, disminuyendo prácticas agronómicas. El girasol generó 70% más PC que el maíz, lo cual lo hace una opción para aumentar el valor nutricional de los forrajes.

‘Tepehuán‐RS’ (Reg. no. CV‐365, PI 706601), tested as line P‐SALTILLO×TA‐245‐1‐2‐4, is a new drought‐tolerant and slow darkening pinto bean cultivar ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Tepehuán‐RS showed high grain yield in low plant densities. It was jointly developed by INIFAP, Postgraduate College and Autonomous University of Chihuahua, released by INIFAP‐Sierra of Chihuahua Experimental Station. Bean is one of the most important crops in Mexico by sown area, with 1.4 million ha. The mean bean yield in Mexico is 520 kg·ha ⁻¹ in rainfed conditions. Production is considerably affected by two main problems, drought and low densities of sown and harvested plants. This sparse plant cover exposes the soil for a longer period, leading to increased water loss through evaporation and exacerbating drought stress. Tepehuán‐RS emerges as the superior variety in all environments studied during 2022 and 2023 with a mean yield of 2125.9 kg·ha ⁻¹ . While the control Pinto Saltillo showed a yield of 1818.4 kg·ha ⁻¹ , Tepehuán‐RS produced 12.9% more than Pinto Saltillo. When analyzing all environments with drought, in 2022 and 2023, Tepehuán‐RS was the best with a yield of 1645.7 kg·ha ⁻¹ . Under these conditions, Pinto Saltillo presented a yield of 1168.4 kg·ha ⁻¹ . Interestingly, Tepehuán‐RS surpassed the control by a remarkable 41.8%. This variety presents the best grain yield even at low plant densities and field irrigation‐drought experiments. Genetic markers and pathogen testing indicate Tepehuán‐RS has the I gene for resistance to Bean common mosaic virus , the Co‐4 ² gene for anthracnose resistance, and molecular marker Pvsd‐1157 linked to slow darkening gene sd sd of the seed coat.

The objective of the study was to determine the effects of different irrigation levels on the yield and quality characteristics of two silage maize hybrids. Hybrids were established under four treatments of irrigation regimes with different tension in the soil: T1) 5–15 cbar, T2) 25–35 and...

The development of modern genomic tools has sped up the breeding program of food crops. More recently, genomic resources are being developed for tropical forages and will be key resources for developing climate resilient high yielding forage varieties. In this study, we present a genome-wide association study for biomass yield and feed quality traits in buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris L. aka Pennisetum ciliare L.,). Genome-wide markers generated using the DArTSeq platform and mapped onto the reference genome of Setaria italica were used for the genome-wide association study. The results revealed several markers associated with biomass yield and feed quality traits. A total of 78 marker trait associations were identified with R2 values ranging from 0.138 to 0.236. The marker trait associations were distributed across different chromosomes. Of these associations, the most marker trait associations (23) were observed on Chr9, followed by Chr5 with 12. The fewest number of marker trait associations were observed on Chr4 with 2. In terms of traits, 17 markers were associated with biomass yield, 24 with crude protein, 26 with TDN, 14 with ADF, 10 with NDF and six with DMI. Twenty of the identified markers were associated with at least two traits. The identified marker trait associations provide a useful genomic resource for future improvement and breeding of buffel grass.