Reciprocal Full-sib Recurrent Selection and Tools for Accelerating Genetic Gain in Apomictic Brachiaria

摘要

Four economically important forage grass species in the genus Brachiaria are native to East and Central Africa. After their introduction to tropical America in the 1960s, these species quickly gained popularity due to their rusticity and tolerance topoor soils and aluminum toxicity (Miles et al. 2004). Brachiariagrass cultivars are planted on 99 Mha in Brazil alone, accounting for 85 % of sown pasture land (Jank et al. 2014). Brachiaria is also planted extensively in other Latin American countries and is grown by small-holder farmers in Africa and Asia (Stiir et al. 2006; Mutimura and Everson 2011; Khan et al. 2014).