Characterization of Exotic Berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) Germplasm for Forage Yield and Quality

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to investigate the extent of genetic variability for forage yield and quality related traits in exotic berseem germplasm at the research farm of MNS (Muhammad Nawaz Sharif) University of Agriculture, Multan in spring 2021. Berseem germplasm was collected from international germplasm resources with aim to find the genetic diversity of berseem germplasm for future breeding program. To evaluate the performance of genotypes for grain yield and its related traits, twenty five genotypes of berseem were sown in following a randomized complete block design with three replications. Each genotype was sown in a single row of three meter length. The data was taken for morphological traits like plant height, fresh forage yield per plant (g), dry forage yield, number of branches per plant and physiological traits including stomatal conductance, photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate and chlorophyll content and quality related traits such as crude protein, crude fiber, crude ash, moisture content and nitrogen free extract. Data was recorded on the following pre and post-harvest morphological, physiological and quality yield traits from five randomly selected plants per replication of each genotype. The best genotypes selected on performance basis of plant were be evaluated such as plant height, fresh forage yield, dry forage yield, leaf per plant, number of branches per plant, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and chlorophyll content. For analysis of variance recorded data showed significant variability. Out of twenty five the genotypes, accession number PI 164413 (302) and PI 468406  (372) best performed for dry forage, leaf to stem ratio, and plant height in spring season 2021.These genotypes can be utilized as parent material for the development of high yielding varieties for future breeding program. The accession number PI 251610 (327) and PI 468406 (372) performed best for crude protein and also had maximum number of branches therefore can be used for high nutrition and forage yield purpose. Highly Positive correlation were observed in crude protein, crude ash, dry forage yield, plant height, fresh forage yield, number of leaf per plant and leaf to stem ratio.