Genotypic variation for in vitro criteria and relationships with in vivo digestibility in forage maize hybrids

The aim of this work was to study the genotypic variation for in vitro digestibility and composition traits within maize elite hybrids, and their relationships with in vivo digestibility traits. Experiments using 58 maize hybrids were carried out in four French environments in 1995. Near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) was used to determine in vitro digestibility (whole-plant and cell-wall digestibility) and biochemical composition (starch, soluble carbohydrates, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent lignin, protein and ash contents). The 58 hybrids were also studied at INRA, Lusignan, France, within a long-term experiment to determine their in vivo digestibility of organic matter and of crude fibre using standard sheep. Genotypic variation was studied and relationships between hybrid mean values for in vitro parameters and in vivo digestibilities were examined. For evaluation and breeding purposes, it is possible to discriminate maize elite hybrids according to their digestibility, especially for discarding low-value genotypes. in vitro parameters, such as in vitro whole-plant digestibility and cell-wall digestibility associated with cell-wall content, can be routinely investigated with NIRS. Accurate criteria that are satisfactorily relevant to reference data of in vivo digestibility evaluated with standard sheep can be obtained to explain about 60% of the variation.     

近红外光谱技术在天然草地牧草营养价值评价中的应用及展望

近红外光谱技术(NIRS)是近几十年迅速发展的测试分析技术,由于准确、高效、无损等检测优势,在牧草营养价值评价领域得到广泛应用,但是在天然草地牧草方面应用较少。快速、实时评价天然草地牧草营养价值,为研究天然草地营养供给和营养载畜量提供基础数据,对草地畜牧业生产具有重要意义。文章阐述了近红外光谱技术的基本原理和特点,介绍了直接法和间接法评价牧草营养价值,分别从常规营养成分、矿物元素、抗营养成分、营养物质消化率4个层次综述近红外光谱技术在2个方法中的应用,并做出展望,以期建立基于NIRS技术的天然草地牧草营养价值数据库,为天然草地的科学管理和合理利用发挥重要作用。     

Variation and covariation of silage maize digestibility estimated from digestion trials with sheep

Summary Variation and covariation for agronomic and digestibility traits of silage maize are reported from a compilation of 22 years of experiments with standard sheep. Genotype effects of DOM and DCF were highly significant, even when genotypes were nested in earliness groups or brown-midrib hybrids discarded (Table 2). The genetic variance of crude fiber content was low, but the variance of the DCF was high. The genetic variance of DOM was about 4 times lower than genetic variance of DCF, but broad sense heritability of DOM was higher because of lower residual variance (Table 3). Genetic correlations between grain or crude fiber content and DOM had similar absolute values, 0.65, so each of these two traits was an important but not the unique determinant of silage maize quality. There was no correlation between DCF and grain or crude fiber content. Yield was not related to DOM or DCF within each group of earliness, allowing some quality improvement without agronomic drift (Table 4). Except for late hybrids, most of DOM differences between groups of earliness came from lowering of minimum value, while maximum values were similar. It was the contrary for DCF, with similar minimum values for all groups (Table 5). There was no obvious correlation between year of registration of hybrids and DOM or DCF, but extra new variation seemed obtained only for low values (Figs 1, 2; Table 6). IVDOM according to the APC process was a poor predictor of DOM, especially when brown-midrib hybrids and earliness effects were discarded; but because heritability of this trait was similar to DOM heritability, such enzymatic processes could probably be used to avoid drift towards poor DOM with hybrids bred for higher stalk strength.Abbreviations APC Amylase Pepsine Cellulase solubility - DDM sheep digestibility of dry matter - DOM sheep digestibility of organic matter - DCF sheep digestibility of crude fiber - DM dry matter - IVDCW in vitro digestibility of cell wall - IVDDM in vitro digestibility of dry matter - IVDOM in vitro digestibility of organic matter - NIRS near infra-red reflectance spectroscopy - NDF neutral detergent fiber - bm₁-brown-midrib-1 allele, bm₃-brown midrib-3 allele     

Near infrared reflectance spectroscopy analysis of digestibility traits of maize stover

Summary Near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) is emerging as a potentially useful tool in breeding plants for quality traits. Information is lacking, however, on its use in forage maize (Zea mays L.). The objectives of the present investigation were to evaluate the prediction of digestibility traits of maize stover using NIRS technique and to study the effect of laboratory (Lab) and NIRS assays on the estimates of variation and covariation. Twelve inbred lines, 66 diallel crosses among them and eight hybrid checks were evaluated at silage and grain harvests for 2 years at two agro-climatically diverse locations in the Federal Republic of Germany. Standard methods were used for Lab analysis of in vitro digestible organic matter (IVDOM), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF) and acid detergent lignin (ADL). In NIRS evaluation, calibration equations were developed by modified stepwise regression. The standard error of calibration was 2.5, 1.7, 1.4 and 0.4 for IVDOM, NDF, ADF and ADL, respectively. The coefficient of multiple determination was high (0.9) except for ADL. The validation statistics (standard error and correlation coefficient) were similar. In the diallel crosses, the estimates of variation (heritabilities in broad and narrow sense, genotypic and error coefficients of variation), generally, did not vary appreciably and consistently in the comparisons between Lab and NIRS methods particulary at silage harvest. Simple and rank correlations between Lab and NIRS analyses were positive and significant. These correlation coefficients based on the mean performance of the diallel crosses at silage harvest were >0.9 and at least 16 hybrids were common between the two analyses, among the upper one-third or lower one-third (22) hybrids. The study showed that NIRS analysis should be useful in maize breeding programmes wherein a large number of genotypes need to be evaluated.Abbreviations NIRS near infrared reflectance spectroscopy - Lab laboratory - IVDOM in vitro digestible organic matter - NDF neutral detergent fibre - ADF acid detergent fibre - ADL acid detergent lignin - SEC standard error of calibration - SEV standard error of validation - SD standard deviation - r simple correlation coefficient - r_s rank correlation coefficient - R² coefficient of multiple determination - h_b ² heritability in broad sense - h_n ² heritability in narrow sense - CV_g genotypic coefficient of variation - CV_e error coefficient of variation - GCA general combining ability effect     

Breeding for yield and nutritive value in forage maize: An easy criterion for stover quality,and genetic analysis of Lancaster variety

Summary The maize populations BS13 (S2) C4 and Lancaster are compared with respect to their potential as forage maize. In light of the preliminary results, the Lancaster population was chosen for a more thorough study.The determination of NDF gave a sufficiently precise estimate of the stover digestibility within our experimental conditions. The heritability of stover and grain production was 0.59 and 0.30, respectively, whilst that of the stover NDF was 0.32.The additive genetic correlation between NDF and stover production, possibly attributable to the architecture of the plant, favours the selection of genotypes that produce more and better forage.     

影响青贮玉米品质因素研究进展

青贮玉米是反刍动物的重要粗饲料来源。优质的青贮玉米具有生物学产量高、干物质含量高,粗蛋白含量高、淀粉含量高,纤维素含量低,消化率高等特征。青贮玉米的品质很不稳定,受多种因素影响,影响青贮玉米品质的因素主要包括青贮玉米的品种、生长季的栽培管理措施、玉米的收割时间、青贮措施、添加剂等。本文综述影响青贮玉米品质的主要因素,为青贮玉米生产提供一定参考。     

Nondestructive assessment of protein content in single seeds of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) by near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy

The potential of near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) to detectwithin-plant differences for seed protein content was investigated. Fourhundred and fifty-one single seeds were scanned by NIRS using a specialadapter. After non-destructive NIRS scanning, the seeds were analysed forprotein content by the Dumas combustion method and a calibrationequation was developed. A validation set of 117 additional seeds fromthree individual plants from the cultivars Bristol, Lirajet and Maplus wasanalysed for protein content both by NIRS and combustion. The coefficientof determination between NIRS and combustion values in the validation setwas 0.94, with a standard error of performance (SEP) of 0.77% and aratio of the SEP to the standard deviation (SD) of the validation set of0.28. The coefficient of variation (CV) for seed protein content inindividual plants, as determined by the combustion method, was 11.7%for Bristol, 8.9% for Lirajet, and 9.5% for Maplus. The comparison ofsuch variation with the standard error (SE) of NIRS analysis, defined as thecombination of the SE of the combustion method and the SEP of NIRScalibration equation, revealed that the maximum explainable variance withinindividual plants that can be detected using NIRS analysis of proteincontent in single seeds was 0.86 for Bristol, 0.83 for Lirajet, and 0.85 forMaplus. These results demonstrated that NIRS is a powerful tool fornon-destructive assessment of within-plant variation for seed protein contentin rapeseed.     

Genetic variation for disease and nematode resistances and forage quality in perennial diploid and tetraploid lucerne populations (Medicago sativa L.)

Summary Twenty-five lucerne populations of the Medicago sativa complex, which were either diploid or tetraploid and wild or cultivated, were analysed for their resistance to four different fungal diseases and to stem nematode. Forage quality, including stem digestibility and saponin content, was also tested.Populations varied in susceptibility to the diseases caused by Colletotrichum trifolii, Verticillium albo-atrum, Sclerotinia trifoliorum and Pseudopezizza medicaginis, and to the nematode Ditylenchus dipsaci. Except for Sclerotinia rot, sativa and falcata subspecies differed in susceptibility, but this grouping of populations did not account for the full range of variation among them. However, the resistance to P. medicaginis was much lower in the sativa than in the falcata populations.Populations also varied significantly in stem fiber content and digestibility. Stem digestibility was negatively correlated to forage yield. Wild sativa and falcata populations had lower fiber content and higher digestibility than cultivated sativa populations. The medicagenic acid was the sapogenin responsible for the anti-nutritional effect of the lucerne measured by the yellow mealworm larvae Tenebrio molitor. The medicagenic acid content was lowest for the pure sativa populations, highest for the pure falcata populations, and intermediate for the French sativa varieties that have some traits originating from falcata germplasm. Some populations could be used in breeding programs to improve disease and nematode resistance, and forage quality.     

Genetic variation in the feeding efficiency of maize genotypes evaluated from experiments with dairy cows

Genetic variation in the feeding efficiency of maize genotypes was evaluated from experiments with dairy cows. Maize genotypes were chosen to represent a range of digestibilities from previous experiments with standard sheep. The variation in milk yield observed with dairy cows fed genotypes with low or high digestibilities or energy values was about 1.0–2.0 kg per animal per day. Moreover, the range of variation in body weight was about 10–30 kg during the 3 months of the experiments. Hybrids with similar energy values had a similar effect on milk yield, but the intake of each hybrid could be very different when they were fed to dairy cows, even if no difference in intake had been observed in sheep. The higher silage maize intake of ‘DK265’ was mostly converted into a body weight gain rather than an increased milk yield, probably because the milk yield potential of the animals was soon reached. It appeared that those hybrids whose predicted energy value from sheep measurements was low led to relatively low performances in cows. Dairy cow performances also appeared to be related to the enzymatic solubility values of the whole plants. For maize breeders, the prediction of hybrid efficiency in dairy cow rearing must include digestibility and ingestibility factors. The most important challenge for maize breeders now will probably be the adjustment of a criterion for predicting intake because the stover digestibility and the starch content can be predicted reliably with the use of NIRS calibrations.     

Quantitative trait loci mapping of forage stover quality traits in six mapping populations derived from European elite maize germplasm

Four forage maize stover quality traits were analysed including in vitro digestibility of organic matter (IVDOM), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), water‐soluble carbohydrates (WSC) and digestibility of NDF (DNDF). We mapped quantitative trait loci (QTL) in three DH (doubled haploid) populations (totally 250–720 DH lines): one RIL population (358 lines) and two testcross (TC) populations, based on field phenotyping at multiple locations and years for each. High phenotypic and genotypic correlations were found for all traits and significant (p < .01) at two locations, and NDF was negatively correlated with the other traits. QTL analyses were conducted by composite interval mapping. A total of 33, 23, 32 and 25 QTL were identified for IVDOM, NDF, WSC and DNDF, respectively, with three, four, five and two major QTL for each. Few consistent QTL for IVDOM, WSC and DNDF were detected in more than two populations. This study contributed to the identification of key QTL associated with forage maize digestibility traits and is beneficial for marker‐assisted breeding and fine mapping of candidate genes associated with forage maize quality.     

Effect of date of sampling and plant density upon size and digestibility of reproductive tillers of Lolium perenne L.

Summary Evaluation of forage germplasm digestibility is an important factor in screening programmes. The major problems involve the relevance of estimations made in spaced plants to plot performance, the effect of maturity, leaf: stem ratio and the choice of plant organ to be analysed. The use of stems of reproductive tiller proved successful in Lolium multiflorum. In the present experiment the effect of dates of sampling (date 1=28/6; date 2=5/7; date 3=12/7/83) and of plant densities (spaced plants and plots) on the digestibility of reproductive tillers of L. perenne cv. Marta 23 days after ear emergence was evaluated. After harvesting, the following characters were recorded on each tiller: tiller length and diameter, and spike and flag leaf length. Leaf blades and sheaths were then removed, the tillers dried and milled individually, and the in vitro digestibility assessed. The data were analysed by Analysis of Variance, Principal Components Analysis and Numerical Classification followed by a study of how the variables contributed to the derived group structure. Results: I-Plots: digestibility values were 63.4, 60.3 and 56.6% (P<0.01), respectively, for the sampling dates 1, 2 and 3. The Cramer Value (0.41) shows some correlation between tiller size and digestibility. Tillers from date 3 tend to be smaller than the others but the separation is not very clear. II-Spaced plants: digestibility values were 63.2, 60.0 and 60.8%, respectively, for dates 1, 2 and 3. Analysis of variance showed differences (P<0.01) between dates and also between genotypes. The Cramer Value (0.23) shows less correlation between tiller size and digestibility: however, tillers from dates 1 and 3 are clearly separated on the basis of size. Tillers from date 3 being smaller, date 2 tillers are located in between those from dates 1 and 3. III-Plots and single plants combined: Tillers from plots are larger than tillers from spaced plants in sampling dates 2 and 3. The Cramer Value for digestibility (0.14) is the lowest one. The results indicate differences in size and digestibility of reproductive tillers of L. perenne when contrasting situations are being compared, which suggest influence of environmental conditions upon the characters evaluated in the experiment. The differences are sufficiently high so that the use of this technique, when populations of L. perenne with wide variation in flowering dates are being evaluated, is not recommended.     

Feeding quality assessment of fresh maize stover by means of near-infrared spectroscopy with a new sample presentation unit

Stover quality traits are important in breeding programmes of maize cultivars. However, conventional procedures for evaluation of stover quality are expensive and thus limit the full exploitation of the available genetic variability. Our objective was to assess the potential of near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) with a new sample presentation unit to determine feeding quality of maize stover. The plant material comprised maize inbreds and hybrids. The sample presentation unit was equipped with a near‐infrared diode‐array spectrometer. Coefficient of determination in cross‐validation ranged between 0.77 and 0.94 for contents of dry matter, nitrogen, neutral detergent fibre and in vitro fermentability expressed as gas volume after 24h incubation time, but it was lower for ash content. It was concluded that NIRS with the new sample presentation unit was less accurate than laboratory NIRS to predict the standard reference methods. However, the new sample presentation unit might be used as a fast and efficient technique to perform large screenings of maize stover accessions in breeding programmes.     

Genetic variation and selection criterion for digestibility traits of forage maize

Summary Variations in feeding value characteristics were studied on a factorial mating design, within a multilocal network. The in vitro digestibility of dry matter (IVDDM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), starch, soluble carbohydrate, protein and ash contents were evaluated on whole plant samples. The in vitro digestibility of the non-starch and non-soluble carbohydrate plant part (IVDNSC) was also computed from near infra-red reflectance spectroscopy estimations of IVDDM, starch and soluble carbohydrate contents. Variations due to general combining ability (GCA) were more important, for all traits, than variations due to specific combining ability (SCA). Variations due to the GCA × environment interaction were also sizeable and were partly explained by the earliness of the lines. IVDDM was primarily influenced by the relative proportions of cell walls and starch in the whole plant, which were particularly susceptible to the development stage of the plants, at harvest. When adjusted for earliness, there was generally no significant relation between the line per se value and GCA performance in the biochemical constituent contents of the plant. On the contrary, IVDNSC seemed to be a feeding value trait worth evaluating at the inbred line level. It was also almost independent of the ripening stage and could be easily computed from whole plant samples. IVDNSC, with a simultaneous control of starch content, might be a good selection criterion for evaluating and improving the nutritive value of forage maize.     

玉米淀粉含量的杂种优势与基因效应分析

以10个玉米自交系及按10×10完全双列杂交设计的90个F2杂交组合在两个地点的试验资料,研究玉米淀粉含量的杂种优势和基因效应。结果表明,淀粉含量表现正向的平均杂种优势,但变异幅度较小,最大值在10%左右,并在组合间、地点间存在极显著差异;淀粉含量的遗传符合加性-显性模型,不存在上位性效应。基因显性效应的作用远大     

饲用苎麻与饲用玉米不同比例混合青贮的研究

将鲜饲用苎麻与全株饲用玉米按质量比分别为100:0(CON)、90:10(R10)、80:20(R20)和60:40 (R40)贮存45 d后,进行感官评价及青贮饲料品质分析,旨在考察调制青贮饲料时二者适宜的混合比例。结果表明：混合青贮随着苎麻比例的增加,气味打分下降,但是各处理的综合感官评价均为1级优等;苎麻添加组的pH值、粗蛋白质(CP)及粗灰分(Ash)含量显著高于对照组(P<0.05),但是显著降低了其总能值(GE)(P<0.05);R20和R40组的干物质采食量高于CON组,但未达到显著水平(P>0.05),而且混合处理对相对饲用价值(RFV)、有机物质消化率(OMD)、总可吸收营养物质(TDN)及净能(NE₁)等也无显著影响(P>0.05)。在本试验条件下,建议鲜饲用苎麻与全株玉米混合青贮时适宜占比为20%~40%。     

玉米茎剪断力研究

玉米秸秆是东北农牧交错地区冷季重要饲料来源。决定玉米秸秆饲料品质的结构部位是茎,茎的剪断力直接反映其物理特征。本文选择四密21、农大3138和登海1号3个玉米品种进行试验。将玉米植株叶片、叶鞘及果穗等去除,按50 cm高度分段,研究了玉米茎不同高度处剪断力随时间变化情况。研究结果表明,随着时间推进,茎的剪断力逐     

华北农牧交错区两种土壤类型下青饲玉米的施氮效应

针对华北农牧交错区饲草量少质差的现实问题, 在区域草甸栗钙土和沙质栗钙土条件下, 研究了氮肥不同施用量对青饲玉米产量与品质形成及肥水利用效果的影响。结果表明, 草甸栗钙土田和沙质栗钙土田施氮比不施氮青饲玉米生物产量分别增加36.1%和106.0%, 植株氮素含量分别提高108.0%和81.9%, 且在草甸栗钙土田出现氮素的奢侈吸收现象; 施氮使草甸栗钙土田玉米植株磷素含量提高10.9%, 但沙质栗钙土田玉米磷素含量降低; 玉米植株粗蛋白、粗脂肪的含量和产量均随施氮量增加而显著增加, 草甸栗钙土田分别增产1.60倍和2.10倍, 沙质栗钙土田分别增产2.74倍和1.36倍; 施氮显著提高青饲玉米的水分利用效率, 草甸栗钙土田增幅为27%~45%, 相当于多供水82.5~135.7 mm; 沙质栗钙土田增幅为95%~97%, 相当于多供水294.9~258.5 mm。故华北农牧交错区青饲玉米施氮是快速提高饲草产量和营养品质以及高效利用肥水资源的有效技术手段, 草甸栗钙土田不超过200 kg hm^-2、沙质栗钙土田不少于135 kg hm^-2, 是兼顾玉米产量、品质与肥水高效利用的适宜施氮量。     

Economic Aspects of Breeding for Yield and Quality Traits in Forage Maize

The economic evaluation of forage maize is complex due to its usage in different types of farms as well as the interdependencies of forage maize traits with the farm organization and the intensity of production. By means of linear programming, the economic weights of important forage maize traits were calculated for farming conditions in Germany. They were determined from the difference in the gross margins of farm models for given changes in a single trait of forage maize and were calculated for dairy and bull-fattening farms under five levels of animal performance, three stocking rates, and different levels of forage maize traits. Individual economic weights under these settings varied little in most cases and allowed aggregation of mean economic weights. They amounted to 4.6 ECU ha^?1 for metabolizable energy yield (GJ ha^?1), 207 ECU ha^?1 for metabolizable energy content (MJ kg^?1), and 3.1 ECU ha^?1 for crude protein content (g kg^?1). Economic weight for forage dry matter content was strongly dependent upon the maturity of the materials and varied between -5 and 25 ECU ha^?1. The application of economic weights was discussed in comparison with other criteria for the assessment of experimental hybrids in official trials.     

Histological components of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trifolium</Emphasis> L. species related to digestive quality of forage

The microscopic analysis of leaflet, petiole, stem and peduncle of 26 populations of 17 Trifolium species was carried out in order to examine their structural characteristics related to digestibility, to compare them between the populations of forage species and their wild relatives and to evaluate, from histological aspect, the potential of wild-growing species to be used as forages. Forage species had low proportion of the tissues composed of thick-walled cells and high proportion of the tissues composed of thin-walled cells in all examined plant parts. The reduction of the proportion of lignified xylem, sclerenchyma and sclerenchymatous interfascicular parenchyma, were suggested as basic selection criteria in breeding Trifolium species for improved digestibility. T. angulatum, T. medium and T. pannonicum proved to be very similar to the forage species in their histological composition, proportion of thick-walled and thin-walled cells and type of variation of the examined parameters. We believe that these species have some potential for use as forages in their own right, but aditional biochemical, physiological and morphological investigations should be conducted.     

Among and within-cultivar variability for histological traits of lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) stem

The histological structure of lucerne stems is a limiting factor for digestibility of the forage. Two experiments were carried out to compare cultivars and genotypes within cultivars for histological traits of the stems. In the first one, the among-cultivar genetic differences were assessed on 6 cultivars differing indigestibility. In the second one, the within-cultivar differences were evaluated on twenty genotypes belonging to two cultivars. Two sets of quantitative histological traits were measured using image analysis on the basal portion of the stems corresponding to the mature zone: the proportions of the different tissues of the lucerne stems (cortex, xylem, pithparenchyma), and the traits describing the xylem in vascular bundles (xylem cell wall thickness, xylem cell wall surface density, mean area of xylem vessel and mean area of fibre lumen). Few significant differences were observed among-cultivars, where as numerous within-cultivar differences were observed for histological traits. When the stem length was introduced as covariate, the differences among- and within-cultivars remained significant. Xylem proportion was negatively correlated to pith parenchyma proportion only. Xylem cell wall surface density and thickness were correlated to the cross-section radius but not to xylem proportion. As digestibility of lucerne is limited by histological structures, the large within-cultivar differences for histological traits of lucerne stems could be used in a breeding program for improved digestibility. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.