Breeding for Improved Dry Matter Digestibility in Smooth Bromegrass (<i>Bromus inermis</i> Leyss.)¹

Abstract

A diallel cross involving six smooth bromegrass ( Bromis inermis Leyss.) clones was used to gain information on the inheritance of digestibility as measured by the acidpepsin dry matter disappearance (APDMD) technique. APDMD was evaluated on the whole forage at two harvest dates in 1971 and 1972. Plant fractions (blades, sheaths, and stems) were also evaluated for APDMD in 1972 on diallel progenies, excluding reciprocals. Progenies differed significantly for the whole forage APDMD at first and second harvest and for the APDMD of the blades. No significant differences were found for APDMD of the sheaths and stems. General combining ability was significant for APDMD of the whole forage at both harvest dates and for APDMD of the blades. Maternal effects were significant for the whole forage APDMD at the second harvest. Progenies ✕ year interactions were not significant for the whole forage APDMD. Heritability and gain from selection values indicated that improvement of whole forage and blade APDMD is possible through breeding.