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Cuban Journal of Agricultural Science

versión On-line ISSN 2079-3480

Cuban J. Agric. Sci. vol.56 no.2 Mayabeque abr.-jun. 2022  Epub 15-Abr-2022

 

Pasture Science and other Crops

Evaluation of Cenchrus purpureus varieties tolerant to drought in the western region of Cuba

0000-0003-1424-6311R.S. Herrera*  1 

1Instituto de Ciencia Animal, Carretera Central km 47 ½, Apartado Postal 24, San José de las Lajas, Mayabeque, Cuba

ABSTRACT

A three-year experiment was carried out to evaluate the agronomic performance of new varieties of Cenchrus purpureus (CT-600, CT-601, CT-602, CT-603, CT-605, CT-607, CT-608 and CT -609), tolerant to drought, obtained by in vitro tissue culture, and compared with its parent (CT-115) through a completely random design with five replications. There were significant differences between the height of the varieties and in both seasonal periods CT-605 stood out with values higher (P<0.05) at 90 cm. The leaves content (%) was only significantly different between the varieties in the dry season during the experimental stage, while the percentage of stems showed a similar response pattern. There were varieties that exceeded the DM yield of the control and especially the CT-605 with values of 21.82, 16.37 and 9.05 t DM/ha/year for the first, second and third year, respectively. With the exception of the first year, the varieties did not express their potential for biomass production under water stress conditions and future researches are suggested where rainfalls is less than 800 mm, as well as studying the effect of strategic fertilization on regimes of greater rainfall.

Key words: water stress; tolerance; yields; population

Africa is the center of origin of Cenchrus genus, previously called Pennisetum, and its varieties (Cenchrus purpureus) are widely used for the production of animal food, mainly as forage (Pereira et al. 2017) or through direct grazing (Gomide et al. 2011). This is determined by its high capacity to use light energy, carrier of the C4 photosynthetic cycle, high DM yields, acceptable quality (Coombs et al. 1973) and it adapts, grows and develops in a wide variety of soils and climatic conditions (Febles and Herrera 2015). In addition, it can be used for other purposes, such as: production of energy (Chakraborty et al. 2012) and bioethanol (Santos et al. 2018), paper industry (Madakadze et al. 2010) and natural herbicide (Norhafizah et al. 2013).

Different varieties have been used in Cuba since the beginning of the 20th century, such as the Napier, which spread throughout the country very quickly due, among other factors, to its high yields and acceptable chemical composition. Subsequently, other varieties were introduced, one of which was the King grass, which in the mid-1980s occupied 85% of the country's forage areas and displaced those traditionally used, which was determined for its high capacity to convert light energy into biomass, its ecological plasticity, high biomass yields and adequate quality (Herrera 2009).

On the other hand, due to the importance achieved by this genus, genetic improvement programs are developed (Sinche et al. 2021) with the objective of obtaining varieties that surpass those traditionally used. Also, at the Instituto de Ciencia Animal, a breeding program for C. purpureus was developed with the aim of improving the productive indicators of the most used variety (King grass), in commercial production and adapting to current climatic and soil conditions, including varieties tolerant to drought and salinity (Herrera 2020).

Due to the above, the objective of this article is to report the results achieved in the evaluation of Cenchrus purpureus varieties obtained by in vitro tissue culture tolerant to drought.

Materials and Methods

Location. the experiment was carried out at the Miguel Sistachs Naya pasture station belonging to Instituto de Ciencia Animal. The soil was Typical Red Ferralitic (Hernández et al. 2015) whose chemical composition appears in table 1 and some climate indicators are shown in the table 2.

Table 1 Chemical composition of the soil in the experimental area 

pH mg/100 g OM, % Total salts, %
KCl H2O P2O5 K2O
4.7 6.3 2.2 7.3 2.1 0.44

Table 2 Some climate indicators during the experimental stage 

Indicator Years Historical
1 2 3
Rain, mm 954.1 1520.4 1291.4 1381.0
Minimum temperature, °C 19.6 18.7 18.9 18.4
Maximum temperature, °C 30.0 28.9 29.0 29.2
Average temperature, °C 25.7 23.5 24.6 24.0

Treatment and design. A total of eight new Cenchrus purpureus varieties (CT-600, CT-601, CT-602, CT-603, CT-605, CT-607, CT-608 and CT-609) obtained at Instituto de Ciencia Anima were evaluated by in vitro tissues culture with tolerance to drought (Herrera et al. 2003), from Cuba CT-115 variety, which was used as a control. A random block design with four replications in 5 x 4 m plots was used.

Procedure. During the dry season, conventional soil preparation was carried out and a distance of 1m between rows was used. In the planting, a similar number of buds per row were ensured. Irrigation was applied at the time of planting and three times later to ensure adequate humidity and establishment. One hundred and twenty days after sowing, the establishment cut was made to start the evaluation process without the application of irrigation or fertilization. The experiment lasted three years.

Measurements. Sampling was carried out every 60 and 90 days in the rainy and dry seasons, respectively, where five tillers were taken per row in each replication to determine: plant height considered from the base to the apical cone, percentage of leaves and stems, DM yield and population as described by Herrera (2006).

Statistical analysis. The database was created and analysis of variance was performed (Di Rienzo et al. 2012) according to the experimental design and the mean values were compared according to Duncan (1955). The theoretical assumptions of the analysis of variance were verified for all the variables, based on the Shapiro and Wilk (1965) tests for the normality of errors and Levene (1960) for the variance homogeneity and there was only the need to transform the population variable using √x.

Results and Discussion

Throughout the experimental stage, there were significant differences between the varieties in each climatic season for height (table 3). This is an indicator that expresses the plant growth in response to environmental conditions (climate and soil) and the management to which they are subjected. This could be determined by the biochemical and physiological particularities of each variety (Sinche et al. 2021) and, therefore, they will show better growth under conditions of humidity or rainfalls stress, an aspect that does not happen in the rainy season, where the climatic factors such as rainfalls, temperatures, intensity and duration of light, among other aspects, do not limit the growth and development of grasses.

Table 3 Performance of height (cm) during the evaluation 

Varieties Years
1 3
Rainy season
CT-115 75.34a 79.58ab
CT-600 84.92ab 83.58abc
CT-601 81.84ab 86.58bc
CT-602 79.92ab 77.23a
CT-603 88.42ab 88.33c
CT-605 78.25ab 75.75a
CT-607 73.00a 76.73a
CT-608 92.92b 89.88c
CT-609 86.25ab 89.78c
SE ± 3.53** 1.89***
Dry season
CT-115 66.25a 65.63a
CT-600 85.25b 86.88de
CT-601 69.63a 72.13ab
CT-602 89.63b 99.00f
CT-603 65.25a 78.65bcd
CT-605 92.00b 90.00ef
CT-607 67.13a 76.00abc
CT-608 84.63b 84.63cde
CT-609 86.50b 90.75ef
SE ± 1.75*** 2.54***

abcdValues with uncommon letters differ at P<0.05 (Duncan1955)

** P<0.01 *** P<0.001

On the other hand, Guimaraes de Favare et al. (2019) when evaluating 13 varieties of Cenchrus purpureus for bioenergy production found that the height did not differ between them in the dry period and there were differences in the rainy period in both experimental years, but in the second year the height was lower. A similar pattern of performance was previously reported by Herrera and Ramos (2015). However, it was encouraging in this research that, after three years of study, there was no decrease in height, which could be a reflection of its adaptation to the environment despite not using irrigation and nitrogen fertilization.

During the rainy season there was no variation in leaves content between the varieties in the three years studied. However, in the dry season of the first year, only CT-603 exceeded (P<0.001) the control (CT-115), while in the same period of the third year none exceeded CT-115 (table 4). This drew attention, since the response pattern varied over the years. However, the values recorded in the rainy period were encouraging despite the values recorded for rainfalls while, in the third year of study, with the exception of CT-603, all varieties showed higher leaves content compared to the first year. This performance should be studied in future experiments due to the role that leaves play in the Physiology and Biochemistry of plants. On the other hand, leaves content is a fundamental element for ruminants feeding, since it is the part most intake by animals, so it is an important element when selecting new varieties.

Table 4 Leaves content (%) during the evaluation period 

Varieties Years
1 3
Rainy season
CT-115 48.00 32.02
CT-600 45.98 30.84
CT-601 46.50 31.30
CT-602 44.37 30.30
CT-603 45.43 31.24
CT-605 47.99 30.84
CT-607 46.78 30.53
CT-608 44.26 30.61
CT-609 46.70 31.21
SE ± 1.11 NS 0.49 NS
Dry season
CT-115 46.23b 45.39b
CT-600 43.86b 44.86b
CT-601 44.81b 44.81b
CT-602 34.28a 38.72ab
CT-603 51.19c 37.86ab
CT-605 34.87a 42.30ab
CT-607 45.55b 42.70ab
CT-608 37.79a 39.79ab
CT-609 36.04a 36.22a
SE ± 0.86*** 1.91**

abcValues with uncommon letters differ at P<0.05 (Duncan1955)

** P<0.01 *** P<0.001 NS: Not significant

Reyes-Perez et al. (2021) when evaluating five varieties of C. purpureus (Verde, Morado, Maralfalfa, CT-115 and Elefante) in Ecuador, found that leaves yield increased with fertilization and regrowth age and each variety showed a characteristic response pattern. Tulu et al. (2022) studied the effect of the year, the date and the cutting height in Napier and determined that the leaf/stem ratio decreased with the years of study and the cutting height, while the cutting date (month) had a varied effect. The mentioned authors relate these results to the performance of climatic factors, the plant age, the type of soil and the management of grass, among other aspects.

The stem content (table 5) showed an inverse performance to that mentioned above. However, this aspect can be unfavorable from the point of view of animal intake , since they, in the process of selecting food, first intake the leaves and ultimately the stems, but from the point of view of Plant Physiology, they favor the storage of soluble carbohydrates, especially in the lower parts of the stem, to facilitate the plant regrowth even in the absence of sufficient leaf area and, in addition, it allows the storage of appreciable amounts of water, which guarantees the metabolism and plant survival under stress conditions.

Table 5 Stems content (%) during the evaluation 

Varieties Years
1 3
Rainy season
CT-115 52.00 52.28
CT-600 54.03 53.76
CT-601 53.50 54.20
CT-602 55.64 55.64
CT-603 54.07 52.71
CT-605 52.01 52.01
CT-607 53.22 54.07
CT-608 55.74 54.97
CT-609 52.63 53.47
SE ± 1.28 NS 1.00 NS
Dry season
CT-115 53.77b 54.61ª
CT-600 56.14b 55.14ª
CT-601 55.19b 55.19ª
CT-602 65.73c 61.28ab
CT-603 48.81ª 62.22ab
CT-605 65.13c 57.70ab
CT-607 54.45b 57.30ab
CT-608 62.21c 60.21ab
CT-609 63.96c 63.79b
SE ± 0.86*** 1.91**

Values with uncommon letters differ at P<0.05 (Duncan1955)

** P<0.01 *** P<0.001 NS: Not significant

On the other hand, Arias et al. (2018, 2019a b) when evaluating some of the drought-tolerant varieties of C. purpureus (CT-601, CT-603, CT-605, CT-608 and CT-609) in the eastern region of the country, showed that the regrowth age increased the length, thickness and number of stem nodes, being these responses specific for each variety.

With the exception of the dry season of the first year, there were differences between varieties in yield for each seasonal period and for the annual total (table 6). The absence of differences in the first year of exploitation in the dry season is not easy to explain, especially if it is takes into account that in the rainy season there was. In the second year, in this same period, there were differences and the values tended to be lower when compared to the first year, which could be determined by the decrease in soil fertility due to the extraction of mineral elements that these plants make, especially nitrogen and potassium. This could be an indicator to carry out a strategic or maintenance fertilization using chemical fertilizers (if available) or organic from the second year of exploitation. The lowest values were recorded in the third year.

Table 6 Yields (tDM/ha) in the evaluation period 

Variety Rainy season Dry season Total
First year
CT-115 12.14b 3.24 15.38b
CT-600 11.44b 3.32 14.76b
CT-601 12.68b 3.01 15.69b
CT-602 12.63b 2.09 14.72b
CT-603 13.05b 2.48 15.53b
CT-605 19.15c 2.67 21.82c
CT-607 7.61a 2.56 10.17a
CT-608 13.59b 3.20 16.79b
CT-609 13.81b 2.50 16.31b
SE ± 0.74*** 0.42 NS 1.05***
Second year
CT-115 11.26ab 3.59d 14.85ab
CT-600 10.53ab 2.59abc 13.12ab
CT-601 11.93b 3.36cd 15.26b
CT-602 12.70b 2.18a 14.88ab
CT-603 11.64b 2.94abcd 14.58ab
CT-605 12.89b 3.48d 16.37ab
CT-607 8.55ª 3.01bcd 11.56a
CT-608 13.42b 3.37cd 16.79ab
CT-609 11.11ab 2.28ab 13.39ab
SE ± 0.68*** 0.18*** 2.55*
Third year
CT-115 3.06a 0.44b 3.50a
CT-600 4.47ab 0.51b 4.98c
CT-601 4.92b 0.39b 5.31d
CT-602 10.00c 0.15a 10.15f
CT-603 3.92ab 0.57bc 4.49b
CT-605 8.65c 0.40b 9.05e
CT-607 4.30a 0.51b 4.81c
CT-608 10.00c 0.75c 10.75f
CT-609 4.31ab 0.44b 4.75c
SE ± 0.41*** 0.05*** 0.07***

abcdValues with uncommon letters differ at P<0.05 (Duncan1955)

* P<0.05 *** P<0.001 NS: Not significant

Reyes et al. (2021) found in four varieties of C. purpureus that the yield of green biomass and dry matter increased with fertilization and age. Sinche et al. (2021), when evaluating a population of Napier hybrids, found that indicators such as height, stem diameter, flowering, and yield varied among the hybrids. Ventra Rios et al. (2022), when they studied the response of Taiwan (C. purpureus) grass to cutting frequency, reported that yields increased with the regrowth age. Arias et al. (2019a) when evaluating some of the drought-tolerant varieties in the eastern region of Cuba reported increases in yields with the regrowth age. All this information has in common the specific and individual response of each of the studied plants.

All of the above is confirmed by the results published by Arias et al. (2019b) when studying physiological indicators such as absolute and relative growth rate, leaf area and leaf area index, leaf area duration and biomass duration in C. purpureus varieties with drought tolerance. The six varieties showed values that individually characterized each of them and confirmed their biochemical and physiological individuality.

In the evaluated period (table 7), there were no significant differences for the population of the varieties and the values at the end of the experiment were similar to those registered in the first year, since the varieties did not suffer depopulation. This is positive if it is taking into account that during the three years of research both irrigation and fertilization was used.

Table 7 Performance of the population (tillers/5m) during the evaluation 

Variety Years
1 3
Rainy season
CT-115 (10.73)3.22 (11.18)3.34
CT-600 (8.52)2.99 (8.85)2.98
CT-601 (9.85)3.16 (10.30)3.21
CT-602 (9.36)2.99 (9.25)3.04
CT-603 (8.78)2.99 (9.13)3.02
CT-605 (9.40)3.10 (9.55)3.09
CT-607 (9.53)3.07 (9.73)3.12
CT-608 (9.60)3.10 (9.78)3.13
CT-609 (10.43)4.21 (10.90)3.30
SE ± 0.56 0.08
Dry season
CT-115 (10.17)3.19 (10.70)3.27
CT-600 (8.94)2.99 (8.63)2.94
CT-601 9.67)3.11 (9.23)3.07
CT-602 (8.18)2.86 (8.78)2.96
CT-603 (8.82)2.97 (8.58)2.93
CT-605 (9.18)3.03 (9.23)3.04
CT-607 (9.42)3.07 (9.20)3.03
CT-608 (8.94)2.99 (9.15)3.02
CT-609 (22.56)4.75 (9.93)3.15
SE ± 0.50 0.08

( ) Real values

These varieties were evaluated (Díaz 2007, Arias et al. 2018, 2019a b and Ray et al. 2018) in the pasture station of Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias Jorge Dimitrov, located in Cauto Valley, Bayamo, Granma and that area is characterized by soils with low fertility and rainfalls regimes that reach 700-800 mm of rain and drought periods that extend up to seven months). The results showed the adaptability of the varieties and, above all, the yields achieved in the dry season, where rainfalls did not exceed 50mm, so their performance against drought stress is unquestionable. In addition, promising results were obtained when evaluating the ruminal passage rate and ruminal degradability of these varieties (Ledea et al. 2016, 2017).

However, this was not the response found in the varieties in this study, which was determined by the high rainfalls that occurred in the second and third year of research (table 2), which limited the plants from expressing their production potential under drought stress conditions. However, in the first year of research, the value of rainfalls was lower than the rest of the experimental years and below the historical value, which could influence on the yields obtained that year. The previous determines the need to carry out future researches under of water stress conditions, as well as to use strategic fertilization in the rainy season in the western region of Cuba.

Acknowledgments

Thanks to the technicians M. García and Ana M. Cruz for their attention to the experiment, the sampling, the processing of samples and the analysis of the results.

References

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Received: January 23, 2022; Accepted: April 15, 2022

*Email: rsherrera48@gmail.com

Conflict of interests: There are no conflicts of interest between the authors

Authors contribution: R. S. Herrera: Conceptualization, Investigation, Formal analysis, Writing - original draft

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