Genetic variability for forage yield and nutritive quality characteristics in selected inbred x Triticosecale genotypes

English: The objective of this study was to study the combining ability, heritability and additive genetic correlation of various nutritive quality, forage yield and animal production characteristics in a selected fixed population of triticale genotypes. The vegetative matter obtained from two sequential cuts per plot was used for chemical analyses and the calculation of plant production and animal production. The trial was a split-plot in time experiment planted in a randomised block design. Three replications were planted and the plots were made up of three rows each. Characters measured for forage quality in both cuts were NDF, ADF, ADL, hemicellulose, crude cellulose, NDFadj, EE, NSC, IVDOM, ME and MRT. Characters used for plant production were kg DM/ha, crude cellulose yield/ha, EE yield/ha, NSC yield/ha, IVDOM yield/ha and ME yield/ha. Characters used for animal production were DM Intake/steer/day, ME Intake/steer/day, LWG/steer/day and Live weight gain/ha. Each one of the animal production characters were calculated according to three different feed intake models. Significant differences were shown in cut 1 between genotypes for NSC, EE and all fibre characters except hemicellulose and crude cellulose. Significant differences were shown in cut 2 for NSC, ME and MRT. Significant differences were shown in both cuts for all the plant production characters. Highly significant differences were shown in cut 1 for Live weight gain/ha according to all three different intake models. The F1 progeny of a 6 x 6 half diallel cross were evaluated in the combining ability analyses using the Method 4, mixed model B analysis of Griffing (1956b), because only one reading per plot was obtainable for each of the characteristics measured. In the combining ability analyses of the F1 progeny, significant differences were shown in cut 1 for gca effects of EE and all fibre characters except hemicellulose. Significant differences were shown in cut 2 for EE, IVDOM, ME and MRT. Significant differences were only shown in cut 1 for all the plant production characters. Highly significant differences were shown in cut 1 for Live weight gain/ha according to all three different intake models. The levels of relative high parent heterosis did not warrant the forming of hybrids in an effort to increase Live weight gain/ha. The σ2 gca/σ2 sca and h2n were moderately high for NDFadj, kg DM/ha and Live weight gain/ha in cut 1 and moderate for MRT in cut 2. Highly significant additive correlations were found between IVDOM yield/ha and Live weight gain/ha according to all three different intake models in cut 1. A significant negative additive genetic correlation was found between kg DM/ha in cut 1 and IVDOM in cut 2. Recommendations were given for the identification of breeding parents, selection in the early generations as well as the final evaluation in order to select a new cultivar for registration.