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Molecular Breeding for Herbage Quality in Forage Crops

  • Conference paper
Molecular Breeding of Forage Crops

Part of the book series: Developments in Plant Breeding ((DIPB,volume 10))

Abstract

Relatively small changes in quality of forage crops can lead to large changes in animal performance. Genetic changes in mineral elements, alkaloids, secondary metabolites, cell walls, protein, or energy availability are all possible using a combination of traditional and molecular breeding techniques. Because few major genes are known to regulate herbage quality traits, breeders have traditionally relied on quantitative trait loci (QTL) for genetic improvement of forage crops. A limited number of QTL for herbage quality traits have been mapped in maize (Zea mays L.), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), and Pennisetum spp. As more QTL are identified, marker assisted selection for herbage quality may become a useful breeding method. Transgenic technology offers the potential to create genetic variability that does not exist in nature. Antisense cDNA constructs are available for all known enzymes in the phenylpropanoid pathway. Down-regulation of most enzymes leads to reduced lignin concentration or increased syringyl:guaiacyl residue ratios, usually increasing herbage digestibility. Sense cDNA constructs for rumen-stable proteins offer the opportunity to improve protein quality in numerous forage crops. Despite its glamour and potential, transgenic technology adds complexity to a forage breeding program, demanding close collaboration between molecular biologists and field-oriented plant breeders. Transgenic plants must be carefully evaluated for numerous agronomic traits in a wide array of field environments, as well as transgene stability and expression through multiple sexual generations, increasing the time and expense required to develop new cultivars.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agronomy, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 53706-1597, USA

    M. D. Casler & H. F. Kaeppler

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  1. M. D. Casler
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  2. H. F. Kaeppler
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Plant Biotechnology Centre, Agriculture Victoria, Melbourne, Australia

    German Spangenberg

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© 2001 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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Casler, M.D., Kaeppler, H.F. (2001). Molecular Breeding for Herbage Quality in Forage Crops. In: Spangenberg, G. (eds) Molecular Breeding of Forage Crops. Developments in Plant Breeding, vol 10. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-9700-5_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-9700-5_10

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-90-481-5676-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-015-9700-5

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