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Lucerne

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Intraspecific Competition In Lucerne And Relationships With Reserve Availability, Jean Christophe Avice, Alain Ourry, Gilles Lemaire, Jeffrey J. Volenec, Jean Boucaud Apr 2024

Intraspecific Competition In Lucerne And Relationships With Reserve Availability, Jean Christophe Avice, Alain Ourry, Gilles Lemaire, Jeffrey J. Volenec, Jean Boucaud

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Below-ground reserves are thought to provide an indication of a forage potential for shoot regrowth after defoliation. The aim of this work was to re-evaluate the causal relationships existing between organic reserves (non-structural carbohydrates and N reserves) and shoot regrowth of alfalfa. The variations brought about by cultivar differences (cv Lodi or Europe), length of the previous regrowth period (30 or 45 d), or by intraspecific competition for light within a dense canopy, were studied. Field grown plants were harvested at weekly intervals, and separated as dominant, intermediate and suppressed plants. Shoot regrowth yield was determined and taproot were analyzed …


Winter Survival And Physiology Of Contrasting Fall Dormancy Selections Of Alfalfa, J J. Volenec, S M. Cunningham, L R. Teuber Apr 2024

Winter Survival And Physiology Of Contrasting Fall Dormancy Selections Of Alfalfa, J J. Volenec, S M. Cunningham, L R. Teuber

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Our objective was to determine the physiological changes that accompany selection from within a germplasm for contrasting fall dormancy reaction. Selection for greater fall dormancy improved winter survival of CUF 101 from 1 to 93%. The more fall dormant CUF 101 had higher sugar concentrations in buds and roots. Roots of the more fall dormant CUF 101 also contained higher soluble protein concentrations when compared to the other CUF 101 germplasms. Root protein extracts obtained in Dec. from the more fall dormant CUF 101 contained at least one polypeptide not found in protein extracts of the other CUF 101 germplasms. …


Root Nitrogen Cycling And Alfalfa Stress Tolerance, J J. Volenec, B C. Joern, L D. Barber, S M. Cunningham, A Ourry Apr 2024

Root Nitrogen Cycling And Alfalfa Stress Tolerance, J J. Volenec, B C. Joern, L D. Barber, S M. Cunningham, A Ourry

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Our hypothesis is that certain root N pools are utilized preferentially during the early shoot regrowth. Our objective was to determine the relative contribution of crown N, root N, and specific root N pools to shoot regrowth after defoliation. We used 15N to follow N into and out of crowns, roots, and specific root N pools, to regrowing shoots after defoliation. The low molecular weight N pool (amino acids, inorganic N,...) acquired 15N rapidly within 2 d of N application. Movement of 15N into the protein-N and insoluble-N pools was delayed initially, but continued until 8 d after N application. …


Selecting Lucerne (Medicago Sativa Complex) For Traits Conferring Adaptation To Grazing, E Piano, L Pecetti, M Romani Feb 2024

Selecting Lucerne (Medicago Sativa Complex) For Traits Conferring Adaptation To Grazing, E Piano, L Pecetti, M Romani

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

A germplasm collection of the Medicago sativa complex was evaluated to select genotypes possessing traits possibly conferring adaptation to grazing. Deep-crowned plants, either creeping-rooted or rhizomatous, were found with different frequencies, in all “taxonomic” groups examined. Although belonging to subsp. sativa, “mielga” wild populations from Spain were closer to subsp. falcata for morpho-physiological traits. Deep-crowned plants could be categorised into four top-growth models, to which corresponded a fairly distinct underground morphology: three were rhizomatous and one creeping-rooted. Cultivars selected for creeping-rootedness did not outyield rhizomatous populations of subsp. x varia which, in turn, had better spreading ability. In a …


Addition Of Red Clover Or Birdsfoot Trefoil In Alfalfa-Based Mixtures To Improve The Forage Energy To Protein Balance, Philippe Seguin, Gaëtan F. Tremblay, M. Thériault, X. Godin, Shabtai Bittman, D. Hunt, J. Hakl, Gilles Bélanger, M.-N. Thivierge, Annick Bertrand, A. Claessens Dec 2023

Addition Of Red Clover Or Birdsfoot Trefoil In Alfalfa-Based Mixtures To Improve The Forage Energy To Protein Balance, Philippe Seguin, Gaëtan F. Tremblay, M. Thériault, X. Godin, Shabtai Bittman, D. Hunt, J. Hakl, Gilles Bélanger, M.-N. Thivierge, Annick Bertrand, A. Claessens

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

The low ratio of sugars (S) to crude proteins (CP) in alfalfa (AL, Medicago sativa L.) leads to inefficient use of nitrogen by ruminants. The objective was to determine if adding red clover (RC, Trifolium pratense L.) or birdsfoot trefoil (BT, Lotus corniculatus L.) with or without a grass species to AL improved the forage S/CP ratio. Treatments were 100% AL (control) or AL-based mixtures with RC or BT in three proportions (75, 50, or 25% of seeded legumes) with either no grass or with timothy (Phleum pratense L.) or tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus Schreb. Dumort.), resulting in …


Effects Of Applied Quantity Of Phosphorus Fertiliser On Phosphorus Content In Plant Tissues Of Lucerne (Medicago Sativa) And Seed Yield In North-Western China, Y. W. Wang, J. G. Han, S. M. Fu, Y. Zhong Aug 2023

Effects Of Applied Quantity Of Phosphorus Fertiliser On Phosphorus Content In Plant Tissues Of Lucerne (Medicago Sativa) And Seed Yield In North-Western China, Y. W. Wang, J. G. Han, S. M. Fu, Y. Zhong

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Phosphorus concentration in plant tissue can be a useful index of P deficiency in lucerne, P fertiliser recommendations and monitoring of effectiveness of current P fertiliser practices (Jacobsen & Surber, 1995). The objective of this study was to measure P concentration in different lucerne plant parts and seed yield in relation to P fertiliser application rates in order to improve recommendations for lucerne seed production.


Organic And Mineral Fertilisation Of Temporary Grassland, Michele Maiorana, F. Montemurro, F. Fornaro Aug 2023

Organic And Mineral Fertilisation Of Temporary Grassland, Michele Maiorana, F. Montemurro, F. Fornaro

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

In Italy, the need to reduce the application of chemical fertilisers and to dispose of different kinds of bio-wastes (municipal solid waste (MSW), olive mill waste, distiller's grains) has led to more compost being made from these materials. Since 1995 our Institute has carried out several studies on different crops. The results obtained so far for grain and industrial crops (Montemurro et al., 2003; Maiorana et al., 2004) appear very interesting. But rarely have the composts been applied to fodder crops. Therefore, this research is aimed to evaluate the effect of MSW-compost on temporary grassland of cocksfoot ( …


Farmer-Directed On-Farm Experimentation Examining The Impact Of Companion Planting Barley And Oats On Timothy-Lucerne Forage Establishment In Central Newfoundland, D. Spaner, A. G. Todd Aug 2023

Farmer-Directed On-Farm Experimentation Examining The Impact Of Companion Planting Barley And Oats On Timothy-Lucerne Forage Establishment In Central Newfoundland, D. Spaner, A. G. Todd

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Growing barley or oats in the year of forage establishment is a common agronomic practice in marginal growing regions, but is often not recommended to growers in Newfoundland. Spaner & Todd (2003) reported that barley seeded at rates of 100-150 kg seed/ha and undersown with a timothy-clover mixture (harvested at mid-milk) resulted in the planting year in greater forage yield of poorer quality than pure-stand timothy-clover. A barley seeding rate of 100 kg seed/ha did not impede forage production in the subsequent year.


Seasonal Variation Of Taproot Biomass And N Content Of Lucerne Crops Under Contrasting Grazing Frequencies, E. I. Teixeira, D. J. Moot, H. E. Brown, M. Mickelbart Jun 2023

Seasonal Variation Of Taproot Biomass And N Content Of Lucerne Crops Under Contrasting Grazing Frequencies, E. I. Teixeira, D. J. Moot, H. E. Brown, M. Mickelbart

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Taproot nitrogen reserves (TN, kg N/ha) a function of N concentration within taproots (N%) and taproot biomass (TBM) are a major determinant of lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) growth rates after defoliation and in early-spring (Avice et al., 1997b). Several studies have shown that N% changes with seasons (Cunninghan & Volenec, 1998) and defoliation frequencies (Avice et al., 1997a). However the seasonal pattern of TBM deserves further investigation as the dynamics of root reserves is a weak point in lucerne simulation models (Confalonieri & Bechini, 2004). The objective of this experiment was to assess the seasonal variation in …


Factors Affecting Bag Silo Densities And Losses, R. E. Muck, B. J. Holmes Jun 2023

Factors Affecting Bag Silo Densities And Losses, R. E. Muck, B. J. Holmes

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Bag silos (polyethylene tubes, 30 to 90 m length, 2.4 to 3.7 m diameter, 0.22 mm thick) are used on approximately one-third of the dairy farms in the U.S.A. for making silage, and the level of adoption is increasing rapidly. Unfortunately, almost no research data have been published on these types of silos. Our objective was to measure densities and losses in bag silos at three farms, looking for causes of variation in both.


Evaluation With Simulation Of Lucerne-Based Cropping Systems To Combat Dryland Salinity In Australia, W. Chen, M. J. Robertson, William D. Bellotti Jun 2023

Evaluation With Simulation Of Lucerne-Based Cropping Systems To Combat Dryland Salinity In Australia, W. Chen, M. J. Robertson, William D. Bellotti

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Dryland salinity is one of the most significant forms of land degradation that farmers face in Australia. There are currently 2.5 million ha affected by dryland salinity in Australia, and this may rise to 15 million ha over the next 30 to 100 years if no action is taken. National field experiments suggest that adoption of cropping systems that integrate deep-rooted perennials, such as lucerne, are important to reduce dryland salinity. This paper reports simulation results with APSIM (The Agricultural Production Systems Simulator), that have been used to explore climate, soil and agronomic factors affecting effectiveness of lucerne-based phase and …


Simulation Of Pasture Phase Options For Mixed Livestock And Cropping Enterprises, L. Salmon, A. D. Moore, J. F. Angus Jun 2023

Simulation Of Pasture Phase Options For Mixed Livestock And Cropping Enterprises, L. Salmon, A. D. Moore, J. F. Angus

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

In southern Australia, 50% of grain-producing farms also run beef and/or sheep enterprises. Legume pasture leys are used to replace soil nitrogen and manage crop disease risks. Deep-rooted perennials, predominantly lucerne (Medicago sativa), are replacing annual Trifolium subterraneum-based leys to increase pasture production. They also have the environmental benefits of limiting soil acidity, rising water tables and dryland salinity. After recent droughts depletion of soil water by lucerne has penalised wheat yields. Decision support tools can help farmers evaluate the long-term effects of grazed annual and perennial leys on animal and crop production at the whole farm …


Relative Forage Yield Of Intercropped Lucerne (Medicago Sativa L.) And Winter Forage Cereals, T. Pereyra, H. Pagliaricci, A. Ohanian Jun 2023

Relative Forage Yield Of Intercropped Lucerne (Medicago Sativa L.) And Winter Forage Cereals, T. Pereyra, H. Pagliaricci, A. Ohanian

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

In tropical regions of the world intercropping is mainly associated with the production of maize for grain, while in temperate areas it is associated with the efficient production of forage. There is increasing interest in the development of cereal - legume intercropping in some temperate regions (reviewed by Mason & Pritchard, 1987). The aim of this study was to compare the relative forage yield of intercropped lucerne and cereal.


Studies Of Seed Characteristics Of Ecotypes Of Lucerne, Bromus And Agropyron In Response To Fusarium Oxysporum And F. Solani, M. A. Alizadeh Jun 2023

Studies Of Seed Characteristics Of Ecotypes Of Lucerne, Bromus And Agropyron In Response To Fusarium Oxysporum And F. Solani, M. A. Alizadeh

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Vigorous seeds and seedlings are more resistant to pathogens than non-vigorous seeds and seedlings (Kim, 1994). Therefore, it is necessary to assess seed and seedling performance in response to seed borne fungi.


The Effects Of Symbiotic Mycorrhizal Fungi On Drought Tolerance And Forage Production Of Lucerne (Medicago Sativa), H. Panahpour Jun 2023

The Effects Of Symbiotic Mycorrhizal Fungi On Drought Tolerance And Forage Production Of Lucerne (Medicago Sativa), H. Panahpour

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form beneficial symbioses with the roots of many plants. This association allows them to maintain themselves and grow well under relatively harsh conditions (Sieverding, 1986). They also improve the ability of plants to withstand or have enhanced water acquisition capability. AMF symbioses assist to extend crop and forage plants into arid and semi arid zones. In this research effects of AMF symbiosis were studied on drought tolerance and forage production of lucerne (Medicago sativa).


Changes In Crude Protein Content With Advancing Maturity In Lucerne, S. Katić, D. Milić, V. Mihailović, A. Mikić, S. Vasiljević Jun 2023

Changes In Crude Protein Content With Advancing Maturity In Lucerne, S. Katić, D. Milić, V. Mihailović, A. Mikić, S. Vasiljević

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

The main determinants of the quality of lucerne forage are digestibility and protein content (Julier et al., 2001) as well as crude fibre content. In the early vegetative phases, the crude protein content of the leaves and stems is the highest and crude fibre content the lowest (Katic et al., 2003). The aim of this study was to determine the rate of change in crude protein levels at different stages of growth and development.


Effect Of Condensed Tannins In Sainfoin On In Vitro Protein Solubility Of Lucerne, J. Aufrère, M. Dudilieu, C. Poncet, R. Baumont May 2023

Effect Of Condensed Tannins In Sainfoin On In Vitro Protein Solubility Of Lucerne, J. Aufrère, M. Dudilieu, C. Poncet, R. Baumont

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Proteins of fresh legume forages such as lucerne are highly degraded in the rumen, resulting in their inefficient use by the animal. The condensed tannins (CT) present in some forages can improve the nutritional value of these forages and of associated feeds in the diet. Previous in vitro work (Waghorn & Shelton, 1997) showed that CT from Lotus corniculatus are able to bind with and precipitate protein from a ryegrass/clover pasture, but when these forages were fed to sheep, the CT effects on digestion and animal performance were weak. This revealed a need for a better understanding of the mechanism …


Influence Of Internode Length On Degradability Of Lucerne Stems, H. G. Jung, F. M. Engles, J. F. S. Lamb May 2023

Influence Of Internode Length On Degradability Of Lucerne Stems, H. G. Jung, F. M. Engles, J. F. S. Lamb

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Lignification of plant tissues restricts degradation of forages by ruminants. The undegradable lignified middle lamella/primary cell wall prevents rumen microbes from accessing undamaged adjacent plant cells. In contrast, walls of non-lignified tissues are completely degradable. Preliminary observations of how deeply rumen microbes could degrade different tissues within 20- to 30-mm long lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) stem pieces indicated a two-fold range in depth of degradation among stem samples. Studies were undertaken to determine if extent of cell wall degradation in lucerne was influenced by length of stem internodes.


Evaluation Of Lucerne Cultivars For Dry Matter And Seed Production In Latvia, S. Rancane, M. Sparnina Apr 2023

Evaluation Of Lucerne Cultivars For Dry Matter And Seed Production In Latvia, S. Rancane, M. Sparnina

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Lucerne is highly productivity and has a high quality. Nevertheless, lucerne growing in Latvia is limited, because of a large area of acid soils (pHKCl<5.8) as well as low and unstable seed yields (Berzins, 2002). In recent years lucerne has taken a more important place in forage production in Latvia, because it is a fast growing crop and in good years gives 3-4 harvests per season. It is important to determine which cultivars of lucerne are more productive and give good seed yields every year in Latvia (Luksa, 2002).


Factor Analysis Of Components Of Yield And Quality Traits In Lucerne (Medicago Sativa), A. A. Jafari, A. Ghamari Zare Apr 2023

Factor Analysis Of Components Of Yield And Quality Traits In Lucerne (Medicago Sativa), A. A. Jafari, A. Ghamari Zare

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Lucerne (Medicago sativa) originated from Iran and is one of the most important forage species in this country. The improvement in yield and quality traits are important objectives in breeding programmes. Smith et al. (1997) indicated that in the context of dairy production ranked digestibility was the most important criterion whilst high crude protein and low fibre content were of moderate priority. This study sought to determine the dependence relationships between yield, morphological and quality traits in 64 genotypes.


Aluminum Tolerance In The Model Legume Medicago Truncatula, M. K. Sledge, B. Narasimhamoorthy, P. Pechter, J. H. Bouton Apr 2023

Aluminum Tolerance In The Model Legume Medicago Truncatula, M. K. Sledge, B. Narasimhamoorthy, P. Pechter, J. H. Bouton

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Aluminum (Al) is the most abundant metal found in the earth's crust, comprising up to 7% of its mass. At low pH, Al becomes soluble and available to plants, resulting in inhibition of root elongation and reduced plant growth. Aluminum toxicity associated with acid soils has been a major obstacle in alfalfa (Medicago sativa) production. The objective of this study is to identify genes that are differentially expressed under normal and Al stress conditions in the model legume M. truncatula, with the long term goal of using these genes to improve cultivated alfalfa.


The Genetic Charactaristic Of Salt Tolerance At The Stage Of Seed Germination In Lucerne, H. Zhou, Q. Yang Apr 2023

The Genetic Charactaristic Of Salt Tolerance At The Stage Of Seed Germination In Lucerne, H. Zhou, Q. Yang

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Superweak luminescence exists in all animal and plants; it shows important genetic information. We report the relationship between superweak luminescence and genetic characteristics to salt resistant in lucerne (Medicago sativa). The method can quickly and exactly evaluate the salt-resistance of plants.


Molecular Clone Of The Na+/H+ Antiporter Gene Atnhx1 And Study Of Transgenic Salt Tolerant Lucerne, Q. Yang, H. Zhou, Y. N. Tongquan Apr 2023

Molecular Clone Of The Na+/H+ Antiporter Gene Atnhx1 And Study Of Transgenic Salt Tolerant Lucerne, Q. Yang, H. Zhou, Y. N. Tongquan

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Lucerne (Medicago sativa) with its good quality and ease of cultivation occupies an important position in animal feeding. Salinity is a major constraint of crop productivity, because it reduces yield and limits expansion of agriculture. Na+ /H+ antiporter catalyses the counter transport of Na+ and H+ across membranes. Vacuolar Na+ /H+ antiporter plays an important role in developing salt-tolerance of plants. Therefore, we could use the gene involved in this mechanism to modify salt tolerance of lucerne.


Participatory Collection Of Forage Species In Uruguay, Mónica Rebuffo, Federico Condon, María José Cuitiño Apr 2023

Participatory Collection Of Forage Species In Uruguay, Mónica Rebuffo, Federico Condon, María José Cuitiño

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Local landraces are potential valuable gene sources with benefits for local agriculture. However, their in situ conservation depends on the personal motivation of farmers and the permanence of traditional farming methods (Negri, 2003). There is the latent risk of loosing landraces and site-specific naturalized germplasm due to rapid socio-economic changes in Uruguayan agriculture. Participatory conservation can provide the necessary synergy between farmers, extension services, geneticists and genebank to achieve the goal of conserving these genetic resources. Although farmers' involvement in germplasm collection is common, particularly for vegetable crops, most forage collections had been done from fields or sideroad areas, therefore …


Improvement Of Native Perennial Forage Plants For Sustainability Of Mediterranean Farming Systems, F. Lelièvre, Florence Volaire Apr 2023

Improvement Of Native Perennial Forage Plants For Sustainability Of Mediterranean Farming Systems, F. Lelièvre, Florence Volaire

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

The amount of water available to agriculture in the Mediterranean is declining because of increasing population pressure and greater incidence of drought. Therefore, the efficiency of the use of water for agricultural production must be maximized and, in this context, perennial forage species have a number of advantages in comparison to the predominantly-used annuals. They can utilize water throughout the whole year besides being able to halt rangeland degradation, restore soil fertility and enhance forage production, thereby contributing to greater sustainability of rain-fed agricultural systems in the southern European Union and North Africa. Despite these advantages, the small size of …


Genetic Diversity Among Alfalfa Cultivars Using Ssr Markers, S. Flajoulot, J. Ronfort, P. Baudouin, T. Huguet, P. Barre, Christian Huyghe, B. Julier Apr 2023

Genetic Diversity Among Alfalfa Cultivars Using Ssr Markers, S. Flajoulot, J. Ronfort, P. Baudouin, T. Huguet, P. Barre, Christian Huyghe, B. Julier

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is an autotetraploid, allogamous and heterozygous species. Cultivated varieties are synthetic cultivars, usually obtained through 3 or 4 generations of panmictic reproduction of a set of various numbers of parents. The parents can be clones, half-sib or full-sib families. The breeders apply selection pressure for some agronomic traits, to induce changes in the genetic background. The objective of this study was to investigate the differentiation level among seven cultivars originating from one breeding program, and between these cultivars and the breeding pool, with eight SSR markers.


Studies Of Seed Characteristics Of Ecotypes Of Lucerne, Bromus And Agropyron In Response To Fusarium Oxysporum And F. Solani, M. A. Alizadeh Mar 2023

Studies Of Seed Characteristics Of Ecotypes Of Lucerne, Bromus And Agropyron In Response To Fusarium Oxysporum And F. Solani, M. A. Alizadeh

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Vigorous seeds and seedlings are more resistant to pathogens than non-vigorous seeds and seedlings (Kim, 1994). Therefore, it is necessary to assess seed and seedling performance in response to seed borne fungi.


Visual Modelling Of Alfalfa Growth And Persistence Under Grazing, S. R. Smith Jr., L. Muendermann, A. Singh Feb 2023

Visual Modelling Of Alfalfa Growth And Persistence Under Grazing, S. R. Smith Jr., L. Muendermann, A. Singh

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

A ‘virtual’ alfalfa plant model was developed at the University of Manitoba in Canada as part of a comprehensive grazing research project. This model shows an alfalfa plant ‘growing’ on a computer screen and the plant’s response to grazing (similar to time-lapse photography). The original model was constructed by Singh (2005) to show the research potential of visually modelling alfalfa plant growth. The ability to visually ‘grow’ a plant on a computer screen also offers tremendous opportunities for teaching and extension. Detailed morphological measurements were used in the construction of Singh’s model, based on single plants subjected to the following …


Simulation Of Pasture Phase Options For Mixed Livestock And Cropping Enterprises, L. Salmon, A. D. Moore, J. F. Angus Feb 2023

Simulation Of Pasture Phase Options For Mixed Livestock And Cropping Enterprises, L. Salmon, A. D. Moore, J. F. Angus

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

In southern Australia, 50% of grain-producing farms also run beef and/or sheep enterprises. Legume pasture leys are used to replace soil nitrogen and manage crop disease risks. Deep-rooted perennials, predominantly lucerne (Medicago sativa), are replacing annual Trifolium subterraneum-based leys to increase pasture production. They also have the environmental benefits of limiting soil acidity, rising water tables and dryland salinity. After recent droughts depletion of soil water by lucerne has penalised wheat yields. Decision support tools can help farmers evaluate the long-term effects of grazed annual and perennial leys on animal and crop production at the whole farm …


Using The Red Clover Polyphenol Oxidase Gene To Inhibit Proteolytic Activity In Lucerne, R. D. Hatfield, M. L. Sullivan, R. E. Muck Feb 2023

Using The Red Clover Polyphenol Oxidase Gene To Inhibit Proteolytic Activity In Lucerne, R. D. Hatfield, M. L. Sullivan, R. E. Muck

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Preserving high quality forage in cool humid regions of agricultural production remains a challenge due to potentially high levels of protein degradation during ensiling. Red clover is an exception maintaining its high protein levels during ensiling. Decreased proteolytic activity in red clover is due to polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity and appropriate o-diphenol substrates (Jones et al., 1995, Sullivan et al., 2004). This work highlights potential strategies for utilising PPO as a means of decreasing proteolytic degradation during the ensiling of lucerne and other forages.