Relationship between growth stage and digestible organic matter in triticale

• Published in: The Journal of agricultural science 1989-08, Vol.113 (1), p.1-11
• Main Authors: Brignall, D. M., Ward, M. R., Whittington, W. J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; cultivars; developmental stages; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetics and breeding of economic plants; in vitro digestibility; organic compounds; protein content; sugars; triticale; Varietal selection. Specialized plant breeding, plant breeding aims; Yield, quality, earliness, varia
• ISSN: 0021-8596; 1469-5146
• DOI: 10.1017/S0021859600084549

In two experiments the yield, digestibility, protein and cell wall contents of several autumn-sown triticale cultivars were compared with rye at defined growth stages. Yields at each growth stage were highest in the triticale cultivars. The content of leaf blade and sheath fell with increased maturity while stem and ear content increased. There were differences between cultivars in the contribution of individual stem internodes. Digestibility also declined with maturity for all plant parts, and differences were apparent between plant parts and between cultivars. Leaf blade showed a slow decline in digestibility whereas stem digestibility showed a rapid reduction so that, at growth stage 43, young stem internodes were of much higher quality than older ones. Spring-type triticales (A208 and A476) had the highest digestibility at stages from flag leaf emergence to anthesis. The relationships between digestibility, plant part contents and cell wall characteristics are discussed.