Seasonal Differences in Structural and Genetic Control of Digestibility in Perennial Ryegrass

Perennial ryegrass is an important forage crop in dairy farming, either for grazing or haying purposes. To further optimise the forage use, this study focused on understanding forage digestibility in the two most important cuts of perennial ryegrass, the spring cut at heading and the autumn cut. In a highly diverse collection of 592 Lolium perenne genotypes, the organic matter digestibility (OMD) and underlying traits such as cell wall digestibility (NDFD) and cell wall components (cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin) were investigated for 2 years. A high genotype × season interaction was found for OMD and NDFD, indicating differences in genetic control of these forage quality traits in spring versus autumn. OMD could be explained by both the quantity of cell wall content (NDF) and the quality of the cell wall content (NDFD). The variability in NDFD in spring was mainly explained by differences in hemicellulose. A 1% increase of the hemicellulose content in the cell wall (HC.NDF) resulted in an increase of 0.81% of NDFD. In autumn, it was mainly explained by the lignin content in the cell wall (ADL.NDF). A 0.1% decrease of ADL.NDF resulted in an increase of 0.41% of NDFD. The seasonal traits were highly heritable and showed a higher variation in autumn versus spring, indicating the potential to select for forage quality in the autumn cut. In a candidate gene association mapping approach, in which 503 genes involved in cell wall biogenesis, plant architecture, and phytohormone biosynthesis and signalling, identified significant quantitative trait loci (QTLs) which could explain from 29 to 52% of the phenotypic variance in the forage quality traits OMD and NDFD, with small effects of each marker taken individually (ranging from 1 to 7%). No identical QTLs were identified between seasons, but within a season, some QTLs were in common between digestibility traits and cell wall composition traits confirming the importance of hemicellulose concentration for spring digestibility and lignin concentration in NDF for autumn digestibility.

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Heritability and phenotypic and genetic correlations of coastal Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) wood quality traits

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x07-234 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 38 (6) ◽

pp. 1536-1546 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Nicholas K. Ukrainetz ◽

Kyu-Young Kang ◽

Sally N. Aitken ◽

Michael Stoehr ◽

Shawn D. Mansfield

Keyword(s):

Cell Wall ◽

Genetic Control ◽

Pseudotsuga Menziesii ◽

Wood Quality ◽

Genetic Correlations ◽

Douglas Fir ◽

Correlated Response ◽

Sample Population ◽

Quality Traits ◽

Glucose Content

Genetic control and relationships among coastal Douglas-fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco var. menziesii) growth and wood quality traits were assessed by estimating heritability and phenotypic and genetic correlations using 600 trees representing 15 full-sib families sampled from four progeny test sites. Heritability estimates ranged from 0.23 to 0.30 for growth traits, 0.19 for fibre coarseness, from 0.21 to 0.54 for wood density, from 0.16 to 0.97 for cell wall carbohydrates, and 0.79 and 0.91 for lignin content at two sites, Squamish River and Gold River, respectively. Glucose content, indicative of cell wall cellulose composition, and lignin were shown to be under strong genetic control, whereas fibre coarseness was shown to be under weak genetic control. Phenotypic correlations revealed that larger trees generally have longer fibres with higher fibre coarseness, lower density, lower carbohydrate content, a greater proportion of cell wall lignin, and higher microfibril angle. Genetic correlations and correlated response to selection suggest that breeding for height growth would result in a reduction in wood quality, whereas breeding for improved earlywood density in Douglas-fir would result in negligible reductions in volume and appears to be an ideal target for selecting for improved wood quality (density) while maintaining growth in the sample population.

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Prediction of forage digestibility from some laboratory procedures. 2. Comparison of in vivo digestibility at two institutes.

Netherlands Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.18174/njas.v19i2.17321 ◽

1971 ◽

Vol 19 (2) ◽

pp. 106-113

Author(s):

B. Deinum

Keyword(s):

Cell Wall ◽

Organic Matter ◽

Sulfuric Acid ◽

Lignin Content ◽

Forage Digestibility ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Laboratory Procedures ◽

Sulfuric Acid Lignin

For part 1 see Abst. 1564, Vol. 40. 2. The relation between digestibilities of organic matter in vivo and in vitro did not differ significantly between the institutes at Hoorn and Wageningen. No difference was found in digestibility of the cell wall constituents in relation to the lignin content, nor was there a significant difference in the relation between the percentage of digestible cell contents and the percentage of cell contents in forage from well managed pastures. Twelve forages of highly digestible perennial ryegrass deviated from these farm forages at Wageningen, showing smaller excretion of bacterial and endogenous residue. Comparison of the 2 lignin procedures showed that 72% sulfuric acid lignin gave consistent residual standard deviations of digestibility of cell wall constituents; permanganate lignin gave smaller errors in forages at Wageningen but greater errors in forages at Hoorn. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)

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Candidate gene-based association genetics analysis of herbage quality traits in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)

Crop and Pasture Science ◽

10.1071/cp12392 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 64 (3) ◽

pp. 244 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

L. W. Pembleton ◽

J. Wang ◽

N. O. I. Cogan ◽

J. E. Pryce ◽

G. Ye ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Association Mapping ◽

Candidate Gene ◽

Perennial Ryegrass ◽

Association Studies ◽

Phenotypic Variance ◽

Genome Wide Association Studies ◽

Quality Traits ◽

Near Infrared Reflectance ◽

Genome Wide ◽

Herbage Quality

Due to the complex genetic architecture of perennial ryegrass, based on an obligate outbreeding reproductive habit, association-mapping approaches to genetic dissection offer the potential for effective identification of genetic marker–trait linkages. Associations with genes for agronomic characters, such as components of herbage nutritive quality, may then be utilised for accelerated cultivar improvement using advanced molecular breeding practices. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the presence of such associations for a broad range of candidate genes involved in pathways of cell wall biosynthesis and carbohydrate metabolism. An association-mapping panel composed from a broad range of non-domesticated and varietal sources was assembled and assessed for genome-wide sequence polymorphism. Removal of significant population structure obtained a diverse meta-population (220 genotypes) suitable for association studies. The meta-population was established with replication as a spaced-plant field trial. All plants were genotyped with a cohort of candidate gene-derived single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. Herbage samples were harvested at both vegetative and reproductive stages and were measured for a range of herbage quality traits using near infrared reflectance spectroscopy. Significant associations were identified for ~50% of the genes, accounting for small but significant components of phenotypic variance. The identities of genes with associated SNPs were largely consistent with detailed knowledge of ryegrass biology, and they are interpreted in terms of known biochemical and physiological processes. Magnitudes of effect of observed marker–trait gene association were small, indicating that future activities should focus on genome-wide association studies in order to identify the majority of causal mutations for complex traits such as forage quality.

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Genetic Variance and Correlation of Forage Yield and Quality Traits in Tropically Adapted Maize

Sains Malaysiana ◽

10.17576/jsm-2021-5001-05 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 50 (1) ◽

pp. 45-52

Author(s):

Nazatul Shima Naharudin ◽

Maizura Abu Sin ◽

Ghizan Saleh

Keyword(s):

Selection Criteria ◽

Biomass Yield ◽

Lignin Content ◽

Forage Quality ◽

Yield Traits ◽

Quality Traits ◽

Broad Sense Heritability ◽

Genetic Advance ◽

Plant Yield ◽

Acid Detergent Lignin

Two F2 populations segregating for biomass yield and forage quality traits were developed from two separate crosses of tropically adapted maize inbred lines. The parental, F1 and F2 generations of both crosses were evaluated to estimate broad sense heritability, genetic advance and correlations for these traits to suggest the best traits as selection criteria towards breeding forage maize with high yield and quality.In Cross 1, biomass yield trait with the highest broad-sense heritability was plant height (70.03%), whereas forage quality trait with the highest heritability estimate was crude protein content (66.60%). Heritability estimates in Cross 2 were high for all biomass yield traits and forage quality traits (>50% for all traits). Indigestible cell wall component represented by acid detergent lignin content was found to be highly heritable in both populations. High genetic advance as percent of mean were found for fresh and dry plant yield as well as for lignin content in both populations. Correlation analysis on all traits showed that all biomass yield components were significantly correlated. All traits related to cell wall content were positively correlated and acid detergent lignin was positively correlated with dry plant yield. Traits with high to moderate heritability and high predicted genetic advance, namely plant height, fresh plant yield and protein content can be used as selection criteria to improve maize biomass yield and nutritive quality for forage utilization. Selecting for higher biomass yield would also result in selecting individuals with higher lignin content as shown by the correlation analysis.

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Association Mapping of LpCCR1 with Lignin Content and Cell Wall Digestibility of Perennial Ryegrass

Breeding in a World of Scarcity ◽

10.1007/978-3-319-28932-8_34 ◽

2016 ◽

pp. 219-224

Author(s):

F. R. D. van Parijs ◽

T. Ruttink ◽

G. Haesaert ◽

I. Roldán-Ruiz ◽

H. Muylle

Keyword(s):

Cell Wall ◽

Association Mapping ◽

Perennial Ryegrass ◽

Lignin Content ◽

Cell Wall Digestibility

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Genome-Wide Association Studies Identifying Multiple Loci Associated With Alfalfa Forage Quality

Frontiers in Plant Science ◽

10.3389/fpls.2021.648192 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Sen Lin ◽

Cesar Augusto Medina ◽

O. Steven Norberg ◽

David Combs ◽

Guojie Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Animal Feed ◽

Lignin Content ◽

Association Studies ◽

Forage Quality ◽

Genome Wide Association ◽

Genome Wide Association Studies ◽

Quality Traits ◽

Near Infrared Reflectance ◽

Fiber Digestibility ◽

Genome Wide

Autotetraploid alfalfa is a major hay crop planted all over the world due to its adaptation in different environments and high quality for animal feed. However, the genetic basis of alfalfa quality is not fully understood. In this study, a diverse panel of 200 alfalfa accessions were planted in field trials using augmented experimental design at three locations in 2018 and 2019. Thirty-four quality traits were evaluated by Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy (NIRS). The plants were genotyped using a genotyping by sequencing (GBS) approach and over 46,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were obtained after variant calling and filtering. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) identified 28 SNP markers associated with 16 quality traits. Among them, most of the markers were associated with fiber digestibility and protein content. Phenotypic variations were analyzed from three locations and different sets of markers were identified by GWAS when using phenotypic data from different locations, indicating that alfalfa quality traits were also affected by environmental factors. Among different sets of markers identified by location, two markers were associated with nine traits of fiber digestibility. One marker associated with lignin content was identified consistently in multiple environments. Putative candidate genes underlying fiber-related loci were identified and they are involved in the lignin and cell wall biosynthesis. The DNA markers and associated genes identified in this study will be useful for the genetic improvement of forage quality in alfalfa after the validation of the markers.

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Prediction of forage digestibility from some laboratory procedures.

Netherlands Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.18174/njas.v17i2.17382 ◽

1969 ◽

Vol 17 (2) ◽

pp. 119-127

Author(s):

B. Duinum ◽

P.J. Van Soest

Keyword(s):

Cell Wall ◽

Chemical Analysis ◽

Lignin Content ◽

Rumen Fluid ◽

Grass Silage ◽

Forage Digestibility ◽

The Poor ◽

Laboratory Procedures

Digestibility of 106 samples of hay, grass, grass silage and legume forage was estimated by regression from cell contents and cell wall constituents estimated chemically. Cell wall constituents were cellulose, hemicelluloses, lignin, cutin, plant silica and soil contamination. Values were not as closely related to digestibility in vivo by sheep as were values obtained by digestion with rumen fluid in vitro. Correlation between digestibility of cell wall constituents and lignin content was poor, and this and other reasons for the poor results from chemical analysis are discussed.-T. D. B. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)

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Silicification of wood-cell walls

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100169870 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 52 ◽

pp. 428-429

Author(s):

S. E. Keckler ◽

D. M. Dabbs ◽

N. Yao ◽

I. A. Aksay

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscopy ◽

Cell Wall ◽

Cell Walls ◽

Lignin Content ◽

Resin Composite ◽

Middle Lamella ◽

Cellulose Fibers ◽

Complex Structures ◽

Rich Region ◽

Inorganic Precursors

Cellular organic structures such as wood can be used as scaffolds for the synthesis of complex structures of organic/ceramic nanocomposites. The wood cell is a fiber-reinforced resin composite of cellulose fibers in a lignin matrix. A single cell wall, containing several layers of different fiber orientations and lignin content, is separated from its neighboring wall by the middle lamella, a lignin-rich region. In order to achieve total mineralization, deposition on and in the cell wall must be achieved. Geological fossilization of wood occurs as permineralization (filling the void spaces with mineral) and petrifaction (mineralizing the cell wall as the organic component decays) through infiltration of wood with inorganics after growth. Conversely, living plants can incorporate inorganics into their cells and in some cases into the cell walls during growth. In a recent study, we mimicked geological fossilization by infiltrating inorganic precursors into wood cells in order to enhance the properties of wood. In the current work, we use electron microscopy to examine the structure of silica formed in the cell walls after infiltration of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS).

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