2003 Volume 49 Issue 5 Pages 456-459
We have investigated the extent of variation inmorphological and feeding characteristics in plants regenerated from six-month-old embryogenic suspensioncultures originated from a single genotype of bahiagrass(Paspalum notatum Flugge). Twenty-eight regeneratedplants were randomly selected and planted individuallyin pots and grown outdoors. Five control plants, whichwere obtained from individual seeds, were grown underthe same condition. Substantial phenotypic variation wasobserved among regenerants, whereas the control plantswere reasonably stable. Large variation was observed inthe number of tillers, ranging from 10 to 84. Regenerantswere compared in six morphological traits, cell wall constituents, lignin and in vitro-digestibility. All regenerants had higher NDF contents than the control plantsalthough there was only a small difference in dry matterand NDF digestibility between regenerants and controlplants. In this study, regenerated plants showed differentmorphological and feeding characteristics, and in vitro-digestibilities were negatively correlated with plantlength (-0.56, p<0.01).
