Notes: Forage Yield, Quality, And Fertility Of Sorghum X Sudan Grass Hybrids In A1 And A3 Cytoplasm

Currently, no information is available comparing the agronomic performance of A1 and A3 cytoplasms in sorghum x sudangrass [Sorghumbi color (L.) Moench] hybrids. The objectives of this study were to compare the effects of A1 and A3 cytoplasm on the maturity, fertility, height, forage yield, and forage quality of sorghum × sudangrass hybrids. In 1989, pollen from a bulk of eight sudangrass populations was used to pollinate four sorghum lines that had been male-sterilized in both A1 and A3 cytoplasm. Hybrids were grown at the Univ. of Nebraska Field Laboratory Ithaca, NE, in 1990 and 1991, in a split-plot design with inbreds (females) treated as whole plots and cytoplasms treated as subplots. The soil was a Sharpsburg silty clay loam (fine montmorillonitic, mesic Typic Agriudoll). Cytoplasm had no effect on days to 50% anthesis, height, forage yield, in vitro dry matter disappearance (IVDMD) or, crude protein. Seed set under selfing bags( fertility restoration) in A3 hybrids was observed, with interaction among A3 cytoplasm sources and lines