LECTURE NO.

5
FODDER CROPS
1. NAPIER
B. NAME - Pennisetum purpureum
FAMILY - Poaceae
CHROMOSOME NO. - 2n =27,28,56
ORIGIN - Cross land of Africa (Tropical Africa)
WILD RELETIVES - P. polystachion (mission grass)
P. macrourum (sueamp grass)
P. pedicellatum (deenanth grass)
P. benthamii
DISTRIBUSTION :- China,India,USA,Srilanka,Bangladesh
FLOWER BIOLOGY
1. The inflorescence is a stiff terminal bristly spike, up to 15-20 cm in length, yellow-brown
to purplish in colour.
2. Spikelets are arranged around a hairy axis, and fall at maturity.
3. Spikelets are 4-6 mm long and surrounded by 2 cm long plumose bristles.
4. There is little or no seed formation.
5. When seeds are present they are very small (3 million seeds/kg) P. purpureum relies on
wind to achieve cross-pollination, due to asynchrony of male and female flower parts.
6. However, this is also an apomictic species which can produce seed by this asexual
method of reproduction (Brown and Emery, 1958; Stevens, 2012).
7. The species is an inconsistent seed producer and in some habitats it rarely develops seeds,
possibly due to low pollen viability (Tropical Forages, 2013).
8. When seeds are produced they are dispersed by wind (Francis, 1992), but are often off.

BREEDING OBJECTIVE
1. High yeild
2. High protein contain
3. Disease resistance
4. Pest resistance
5. Drawfness
6. High vigrous
7. Abiotic and biotic stress resistance
8. Early maturity
CONVENTIONAL BREEDING
Napier grass is a cross-pollinating allotetraploid species with a chromosome number of
2n = 4x = 28 (genome A’A’BB).
Although there is no clear information on the genetic origin of allotetraploidy in Napier
grass, the A’A’ genome has been reported to be homologous to the AA genome of pearl
millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.)) and the A’ chromosomes are larger than the B
chromosomes, which contribute genes controlling the perennial growth habit .
 To date, Napier grass ‘improvement’ has mainly been based on the evaluation and
selection of existing accessions for traits of interest.
For example, accessions were screened for resistance to diseases, and Napier grass head
smut- and stunt-resistant lines were identified from the existing collections.
Plant breeding and selection in Napier grass has primarily been aimed at improving
different agronomic traits such as disease resistance, yield, nutritional quality, growth
habit (dwarfing), palatability and abiotic stress tolerance.
Napier grass is cross-compatible with the closely related species pearl millet (Pennisetum
glaucum) (2n = 2x = 14, genome AA) the resultant hybrids are triploid and sterile and can
only be propagated by vegetative means which, although labour intensive, ensure a true-
to-type variety.
A number of agronomically important traits, nutritional quality and palatability for
example, have been introgressed into the genome of Napier grass from pearl millet
through conventional plant breeding and hybrids have become a crucial part of the forage
crop value chain in Africa, Asia and South America.

2. BAJRA
B. NAME - Pennisetum glaucum
FAMILY – Poaceae/Graminea
CHROMOSOME NUMBER – 2n=14
ORIGIN - Originated in India or Africa, W. Africa

NEW VARIETIES
NBH-149, VBH-4 developed for Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujrat, Maharashtra are
capable of producing 14% higher yield.
ICM4-155 gave higher yield than the standard check and adopted for all growing tracts of
India. Also MH-306, NH-338 and hybrid like MP-204, MP205 have been identified.
DISTRIBUTION:
Bajra is widely grown in Africa and Asia since pre historic times.
The important pearl millet growing countries are India, China, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sudan,
Egypt and Arabia India is the largest producer of pearl millet in the world.
Principal pearl millet growing states are Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Western Uttar
Pradesh, Haryana and Karnataka which accounts for 90 % of the total area and 86% of
production
In Karnataka, bajra is extensively cultivated as a rainfed crop in red, black and sandy soils
during kharif season.
FLORAL BIOLOGY
1. Inflorescence is a spike, terminal, drooping.
2. The spikelets are oval or eliptical in shape with two to three bristles.
3. The spikelets contain two flowers partially protected by two membranous glumes.
4. Lower floret with L1 and P1, sterile; upper floret with L2, P2, stamens three, styles two,
fruit a caryopsis.
BREEDING OBJECTIVES :
1. Breeding for high grain yield To get high yields the following plant characters are
necessary
a) more number of tillers
b) well filled, compact, long panicle.
c) heavy grains.
d) Uniformity of ripening. 41 Under irrigated conditions photo insensitivity and early
maturity are essential for multiple and relay cropping.
2. Breeding for improved grain quality. .
3. Breeding for drought tolerance.
4. Breeding for disease resistance.
5. Breeding for alternate source of cytoplasm in male sterile lines.
6. Breeding for sweet cumbu to have high forage value.

BREEDING PROCEDURES
1. Introduction : Hybrid bajra from Punjab.
Tift 23 A from USA
2. Selection : Pure line selection : Co 2, Co 3,
3. Hybridisation and selection
Interspecific hybridisation.
Pennisetum glaucum x [Link]
Cumbu napier hybrids.
4. Heterosis breeding : Hybrid bajra
In earlier days before the identification of male sterile lines utilising the protogynous nature
hybrids were released. The hybrids were produced by sowing both parents in the ratio of 1:1.
After the discovery of cytoplasmic genic male sterile line Tift 23A by Burton in Tifton,
Georgia led to development of hybrids. Earlier hybrids of India viz., HB1, HB2 to HB5 were
produced utilising Tift 23 A. But due to susceptibility to downy mildew they went out of
cultivation. Even before the discovery of CGMS lines by Burton it was discovered by
Madhava Menon and his coworkers at Coimbatore. Unfortunately due to failure of
publishing it was not recognised.
To over come the problem of downy mildew male sterile lines L 111A and 732 A were
isolated and at present used in breeding programme.
There are number of CMS lines developed by private agencies like Nath seeds, Mahyco,
Mahendra.
5. Population improvement :
ICRISAT entry WCC 75 is an example for population improvement. This was developed
from world composite by recurrent selection method. It was developed from derivatives of
numerous crosses between diverse sources of germplasm and Nigerian early maturing land
races known as ‘Gero’ millets. Another example is ICMV 155 of ICRISAT.
6. Synthetic varieties :
Synthetics are produced by crossing in isolation a number of lines tested for their GCA. E.g.
ICMS 7703.
It is a result of crossing between 7 inbred lines of India x African crosses.
7. Mutation breeding
At IARI Tift 23 A was gamma irradiated and 5071 A resistant to downy mildew was
evolved. With this the hybrid NHB 3 was evolved (5071 A x J 104)
BREEDING CENTERS:
1. International Crops Research Institute for Semi Arid Tropics (ICRISAT,) Hyderabad
2. All Indian Pearl Millet improvement project (AIPIP) Jodhpur (Rajasthan)
PRACTICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Varieties: PS B – 8, PSB 15, mukta
Hybrids : HHB 45, HHB 50 from Hissan GHB 30, GHB – 27 from Gujarat

3. SORGHUM
B. NAME – Sorghum bicolor L.
FAMILY – Poaceae/Gramneae
CHROMOSOME NUMBER – 2n=20
ORIGIN – Northeastern Africa or at the Egyptian
RELATED VARIETIES
In Tamil Nadu , CO 25 CO26, CO 27 ,K5, K7, CO 19, CO 21, K9, BSR 1, CO 26, K4, K8,
CO 25, APK 1, K 10, Paiyur 1 and 2 are the popular varieties for grain purpose ,while CO 20
and CO 28 is a fodder sorghum

FLORAL BIOLOGY
Sorghum is an often cross-pollinated crop.
The extent of out crossing is 6-45% and depends on nature of earhead.
In loose panicles the cross-pollination is more and less in compact panicle.
Spikelets occur in pairs on the lateral branches of the panicle.
One is sessile while the other spikelet is pedicelled.
Sessile is bisexual and pedicelled spikelet is male or sterile.
Sessile spikelet is comparatively larger than staminate spikelet and each spikelet has two
florets.
Flower opening starts after 2 to 4 days of emergence of panicle from the boot leaf.
Flowering starts from the tip of the panicle and proceeds downwards (basipetal).
Flowering completes in 7 days.
The pollen is viable for 10 to 20 minutes under field conditions.
Fertile pollen will be lemon yellow in colour.
Older pollen grains will normally turn to orange.
Receptivity of stigma starts two days before opening and remains for several days ( 5
days).
Flower opening and anthesis will be from 2.00 am to 8.00 am.

BREEDING OBJECTIVES
1. Breeding for high grain yield To get high yields the following plant characters are
necessary
a) more number of tillers
b) well filled, compact, long panicle.
c) heavy grains.
d) Uniformity of ripening. 41 Under irrigated conditions photo insensitivity and early
maturity are essential for multiple and relay cropping.
2. Breeding for improved grain quality. .
3. Breeding for drought tolerance.
4. Breeding for disease resistance.
5. Breeding for alternate source of cytoplasm in male sterile lines.
6. Breeding for sweet cumbu to have high forage value.

BREEDING PROCEDURE
Sorghum is often cross pollinated crop. So to maintain varietal purity isolation distance of
400 meters is necessary. Compared to other often pollinated crop like red gram, maintenance
of inbreds is easy in sorghum. By putting brown paper and selfing the genetic purity can be
maintained.
1. Introduction : Varieties of milo and kafir sorghum introduced from USA are used in
conversion programme to convert the local long duration photo sensitive varieties to short
duration, non-photo sensitive lines.
2. Selection : Old varieties like Co1, Co2, Co4 are all selection made from local land races.
[Link] and selection
a) Inter varietal
(IS 4283 x Co 21) x CS 3541, Three way cross derivative Co 25 (MS 8271 x IS 3691) -
Single cross derivative Co26
b) Inter specific
Co 27 Sorghum. (Co11 x [Link])
4. Heterosis breeding :
Use of CMS lines.
CSH 5 2077 A x CS 3541
5. Mutation breeding :
X ray mutant from CSV 5 (148) Co 19 is a natural mutant from Co 2
6. Back cross method :
By following backcross method of breeding sorghum conversion programme was initiated.
The long duration photosensitive germplasm was converted in to photo insensitive short
duration sorghums. This was done at USA Similar programme was done at ICRISAT also.
7. Population improvement :
With the use of cytoplasmic genetic male sterility as well as genic male sterility we can go
for population improvement. The local land races can be used as pollinators and by half sib
family selection, we can isolate lines. We can follow recurrent selection idea to develop
superior inbreds.
8. Use of Apomictic lines :
Some apomictic lines have been identified which can be utilised in breeding programme and
by vegetative propagation we can fix up heterosis. E.g. R473 from Hydrabad.
BREEDER CENTERS:
International sorghum improvement work is carried out by ICRISAT (International Crop
Research Institute for Semi Arid Tropics)
In India at Directorate of Sorghum Research (DSR), Hyderabad
PRACTICAL ACHIEVEMENTS:
Hybrids are developed by using cytoplasmic genetic smale sterility combined kafir 60
Varieties: CSV1 CSV-2, CSV-4, M35-1, CSV-13
Hybrids: CSH-1, CSH-2, 3 etc for kharif and CSH 7, 12, 13 for Rabi

4. MAIZE
B. NAME - zea mays
FAMILY- Poaceae
CHROMOSOME NUMBER: 2n=20
CENTRE OF ORIGIN: Central America,mexico
DISTRIBUTION OF SPECIES: USA,india,china,france.
WILD RELATIVES
It has two close relatives,
Gama grass tripsacum ;(2n=36;72)
Teosinte (2n=20)
Teosinte is the closest relatives of maize and crosses readily with it
FLORAL BIOLOGY
Maize is tall determinate annual plant producing large ,narrow ,opposite leaves borne
alternately along the length of a solid stem.
Maize is a monoceous plant.
Maize is protoandrous plant.
Male flower is called as tassel.
Female flower is called cob.
MAIZE VARIETIES
1. African tall
2. APFM-8
3. J-1006
4. Pratap makka chari 6
BREEDING OBJECTIVES –
1. Reduce internodal Length.
2. Branching habit.
3. Increasing nutrient content in leaves.
4. Resiatance to disease and pest.
5. Fertilize response activity.
6. Non logging.
BREEDING METHODS:
1. Introduction :
Initially the varieties were all introduced one.
Sikkim primitive 1
Sikkim primitive 2.
Mexican line were first introduced during 16th century by Portugeese
2. Mass Selection : Prior to 1945 mass selection was the only method used for maize
improvement.
KT 1 - U. P.
RAS 1 - Rajasthan.
By adopting mass selection technique it is possible to get yield increase by 19% per cycle.
3. Ear to Row Selection :
First proposed by Hopkins for improving oil and protein content of maize. This method
involves selection of a number of phenotypically desirable ears out of a population grown in
isolation. The selecte d cobs are harvested on single plant basis and keeping part of the seeds
and remaining sown in rows. Based on the best performing rows during next season the
reserve seeds are sown.
This method is suitable for characters having high heritability like oil content and protein
content. But it was not helpful to get increased yield.
[Link] Ear to Row method :
Proposed by Lonquist.
I. Best ear heads from population selected (100 No.) and harvested on single plant basis. And
threshed individually.
II. The single heads harvested are raised in progeny rows in more than one location
representing different environment with local checks.
III. In the main station the progeny rows are used as crossing block. Pollen from best plants
are collected, mixed and used for crossing the rows.
Select best five plants from each rows and harvest them separately record the yield. On the
basis of performance of over all locations only top 20% progenies are selected.
These 20% will include the five plants selected.
IV. The seeds from 5 plants selected are sown in progeny rows and cycle is repeated.
5. Hybridization and Selection
Not popular since isolation of superior recombinants was not made.
6. Heterosis breeding :
Instead of using CGMS lines, detasseling the female inbred line is followed in India.
Since use of CGMS line is costlier compared to detasseling it is not followed.
Crossing the inbreds of indigenous x exotic origin resulted in release of best hybrids.
Indian x Indian - 24 to 43% yield increase.
Indian x U.S. dent – 58 % yield increase.
Indian dent x Caribbean Flint – 47 to 54 % yield increase.
1. Single cross hybrid
2. Three way cross hybrids - Ganga -5, Trishulatha.
3. Double cross hybrids - COH 3
4. Double top cross hybrid - White kernel hybrids - Ganga safed 2, Histarch, Ganga 4.
7. Population Improvement:
Recurrent selection technique was initiated by Dhawan in 1963. The initial synthesis of
composites were done from high yielding inter varietal crosses which exhibited minimum
inbreeding depression.
Kisan, Jawahar, Vikram, Sona, Vijay, Amber.

5. BERSEEM
BOTANICAL NAME - Trifolium alexandrium
FAMILY - Leguminosae
CHROMOSOME NO. - 2n = 16
ORIGIN - Asia minor and from there it was introduced to Egypt
CULTIVATED SPECIES - Trifolium which consists of nearly 290 species as most
important forage legumes.
Berseem doesn't have original wild forms.
Shaftal (T. resupinatum)
White clover (T. repens)
Red clover (T. pratense)
Crimson clover (T. incarnatum)
Alsike clover (T. hybridum)
Subterraneum clover (T. subterraneum)

FLORAL BIOLOGY -
Berseem known as king of fodder crops.
It is popular among livestock farmers of the world.
It is a fast growing annual crop with 30-60 cm plant height.
The stem is hollow and succulent.
Roots do not extend beyond two feet in general and contains nodules.
Inflorescence is head and each inflorescence contains around 100 papilionaceous flowers,
white in colour with around 1cm length.
Seed is egg shaped, yellowish in colour and is of around 2mm in length.
In berseem white coloured flowers are produced in cluster which are hermaphrodite in
nature with five fused sepals and five free petals.
The stamens are always ten in number and their filaments are fused in a group of 9+1.
Berseem is a cross pollinated plant and is entomophilous in nature.
BREEDING OBJECTIVE
High yield.
High protein contain.
Disease resistance.
Pest resistance.
Drawfness .
High vigorous.
Abiotic and biotic stress resistance.
Early maturity.
Regeneration capacity allowing 2-3 cuts.

ACHIEVEMENTS
Variety Features
Mescavi Varieties under this group develop short side branches at the base of the
stem in advanced stage of its growth.
Varieties: Wardan, JB-1, JB-2, JB-3, UPB-103.
Fahl Develop small side branches in the upper portion of the stem very freely.
They give only one cut.
Saidi They develop shoots for a short time. Develops branches at upper portion