Morphological and agronomic characterisation of a collection of napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) and P-purpureum x P-glaucum

Abstract

A collection of 53 accessions of Pennisetum purpureum and P. purpureum x P. glaucum maintained in the field genebank of the International Livestock Research Institute was described using 8 agronomic characters and 20 morphological characters. The collection proved to be very variable both in agronomic and morphological attributes, although several accessions were found to be so similar that they could not be distinguished and possibly are duplicates. The accessions formed 6 groups based on morphological characters and 5 groups using the agronomic characters. This result will assist in future evaluation and use of the collection. Three dwarf accessions formed a distinct group. The morphological and agronomic classifications are unable to separate the hybrid accessions (Pennisetum purpureum x P. glaucum) from P. purpureum.