Genetic variability for mineral element concentration of crested wheatgrass forage

摘要: Grass tetany is a complex metabolic disorder that causes substantial livestock production losses and deaths in temperate regions of the world. It caused by low levels of Mg or an imbalance K, Ca, forage consumed animals. Development grasses with improved mineral balance would be economical means of minimizing from this malady. This study was conducted to determine if genetic variability exists among crested wheatgrasses, Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertner A. desertorum (Fisher ex Link) Schultes, for Mg, Ca, K, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, Na, P concentrations. Forage spaced plants 10 diverse wheatgrass strains harvested replicated plots at Lincoln and Alliance, NE, which differ markedly climate, analyzed for these minerals. There were differences strains over locations Fe concentration forage. were differences within locations but not over for K. Strain P concentrations of the significant (P > 0.05) when averaged locations. Calcium positively correlated (r = 0.40). These results indicate it should possible to breed crested wheatgrass with increased Ca its forage, thus reducing grass potential.