An Overview of Whipgrass Breeding Efforts in Sichuan Agricultural University

Whipgrass [Hemarthriacompressa(Linn.f.)R.Br.] has several outstanding characteristics that make it attractive in livestock production systems. These include superior cool-season growth compared to other C₄ grasses, persistence under grazing on poorly drained soils, and relatively high herbage digestibility that declines at a slower rate with increasing maturity than for most C₄ grasses. More than 50 years hard work, a whipgrass breeding group in Sichuan Agricultural University (SAU) collected 84 accessions from south china. Through germplasm evaluation and breeding, 3 varieties, Chong gao, Guang yi and Ya an, were released by the end of 2009. All of them are very popular in south china from 1986. In the future, the team approach emphasizes plant improvement in seedling vigor and establishment, seed production, cold tolerance, photoperiod response, seasonal distribution of forage production, forage quality, insect and disease resistance.