collection of propagation material of indigenous rangeland ... collection of propagation material of...

COLLECTION OF PROPAGATION MATERIAL

OF INDIGENOUS RANGELAND FORAGE AND MEDICINAL PLANT

SPECIES IN THREE REGIONS OF OMAN

AbstractThe collection missions for rangeland germplasm concerning forage and medicinal plant species were organized

in Oman during months of August and September 2005. The representative sites of three regions of Oman viz.

Salalah, Interior and Sharqiya were visited for collection mission. These collection missions were mainly con-

cerned with collection of propagation materials such as stubbles or tillers of grass species, cuttings or seeds, if

available, of herb, shrub or tree species. The mission was guided by the list of target species prepared based on

our interviews with herders, farmers rearing livestock and the others knowing indigenous medicine. In the col-

lection mission, we were able to collect stubbles of 11 forage grass species, seedlings of 5 forage herb (forb)

species, cuttings of 16 forage shrub species and cuttings of 11 forage tree species were taken from all sites. The

seedlings/cuttings of 25 plant taxa of medicinal importance have been collected. The stubbles seedlings/cuttings

have been planted in black polythene bags containing appropriate soil mixture at respective sites and have been

maintained in the shade house until they attain stage of transplanting in the Ex Situ gene bank of pasture/medic-

inal plant species of Oman. The germplasm materials collected are evaluated within the collaborative program

between the Sultanate and ICARDA-APRP, for their forage/medicinal and economic value.

The collection missions for rangeland germplasm concerning forage and medicinal plant species were organized

in Oman during months of August and September 2005. The representative sites of three regions of Oman viz.

Salalah, Interior and Sharqiya were visited for collection mission. These collection missions were mainly con-

cerned with collection of propagation materials such as stubbles or tillers of grass species, cuttings or seeds, if

available, of herb, shrub or tree species. The germplasm materials collected are evaluated within the collabora-

tive program between the Sultanate and ICARDA-APRP, for their forage/medicinal and economic value.

The mission was guided by the list of target species prepared based on our interviews with herders, farmers rear-

ing livestock and the others knowing indigenous medicine. In the collection mission, we were able to collect

stubbles of 11 forage grass species (Table 1), seedlings of 5 forage herb (forb) species (Table 2), cuttings of 16

forage shrub species (Table 3) and cuttings of 11 forage tree species (Table 4) were taken from all sites.

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Table 1. List of stubbles of forage-grass species

1. Aeluropus lagopoides (L.) Trin. ex Thwaites Family: Poaceae (Gramineae)

2. Cenchrus pennisetiformis Steud. Family: Poaceae (Gramineae)

3. Cymbopogon schoenanthus (L.) Spreng. Family: Poaceae (Gramineae)

4. Dactyloctenium scindicum Family: Poaceae (Gramineae)

5. Dichanthium micranthum Family: Poaceae (Gramineae)

6. Dichanthium aristatum Family: Poaceae (Gramineae)

7. Dyschoriste dalyi Family: Poaceae (Gramineae)

8. Pennisetum setaceum (Forsskal) Chiov. Family: Poaceae (Gramineae)

9. Setaria verticillata Family: Poaceae (Gramineae)

10. Seteria sp Family: Poaceae (Gramineae)

11. Themeda quadrivalis Family: Poaceae (Gramineae)

Table 2. List of seedlings of forage herb (forb) species

1. Diplotaxis harra (Forsskal) Boiss. Family: Crucifexae

2. Helianthemum lippii (L.) Dum-Cours. Family: Cistaceae

3. Heliotropium calcareum Stocks Family: Boroginaceae

4. Reichardia tingitana (L.) Roth. Family: Compositae

5. Zygophyllum simplex L Family: Zygophyllacene

Table 3. List of Cuttings of forage shrub species

1. Capparis spinosa L. Family: Capparaceae

2. Dyerophytum indicum (Gibs. Ex Wight) Kuntze. Family: Plumbaginaceae

3. Euphorbia larica Boiss Family: Euphorbiaceae

4. Euphorbia riebekii Family: Euphorbiaceae

5. Fagonia indica Burm. F. Family: Zygophyllaceae

6. Grewia erythraea Schweinf. Family: Tiliaceae

7. Haloxylon salicornicum (Moq.) Bunge ex Boiss. Family: Chenopodiaceae

8. Heliotropium kotschyi (Ledeb.) Guerke. Family: Boraginalene

9. Jaubertia aucheri: Guill Family: Rubiaceae

10. Leptadenia pyrotechnica (Forsskal) Decne Family: Asclepiadaceae

11. Lycium shawii Roem & Schult. Family: Solanceae

12. Monotheca buxifolia (Falc.) A.DC. Family: Sapotaceae

13. Periploca aphylla Decne. Family: Asclepiadaceae

14. Pteropyrum scoparium Janb. & Spach Family: Polygonaceae

15. Rhus aucheri Boiss. Family: Anacardiaceae

16. Sagetaria spiciflora (A. Rich.) Hutch. & Druce Family: Rhamnaceae

Table 4. List of cuttings of forage-tree species

1. Acacia ehrenbergiana Hayne. Family: Mimosaceae

2. Acacia etbaica Family: Mimosaceae

3. Acacia nilotica (subspecies indica) Family: Mimosaceae

4. Acacia Senegal Family: Mimosaceae

5. Anogeissus dhofarica Family: Combretaceae

6. Blepharis dhofarense Family: Acanthaceae

7. Blepharispermum hirtum Family: Compositae

8. Maerua crassifolia Forsskal. Family: Capparaceae

9. Maytenus dhofarensis Family: Celastraceae

10. Ormocarpum dhofarense Family: Fabaceae

11. Tamarix aphylla (L.) Karst. Family: Tamaricaceae

Table 5. List of seedlings/cuttings of plant taxa of medicinal importance

Scientific Name Local name

1. Acridocarpus orientalis Qaphas

2. Aloe vera Muql, Siql

3. Capparis spinosa Lisaf

4. Caralluma aucheriana Dhiz

5. Cassia italica Ashriq

6. Citrulus colocynthis Handal

7. Cleome glaucescense Mukhaiblutil-shams

8. Convolvulus cf pilosetiformis Nijja

9. Crucianella membraneaea Muhtadi

10. Cymbopogon schoenanthus Sakhbar

11. Dodonaea viscosa Shahs

12. Fagonia indica Shikya

13. Indigofera intricata Uzlim

14. Lavendula subnuda Haraaq, Sawmar

15. Lycium shawii Qasad

16. Maerua crassifolia Sarh

17. Moringa perigrina Shuh

18. Pennisetum setaceum Halfa

19. Pteropyrum scoparium Sidaf

20. Rhazya stricta Harmal

21. Rhus aucheri Qataf

22. Salvadora persica Raq

23. Tamarix aphylla Athal

24. Taverniera glabra Asmat

25. Tephrisia purpurea Dhafra

The seedlings/cuttings of 25 plant taxa of medicinal importance have been collected (Table 5).

The stubbles seedlings/cuttings have been planted in black polythene bags containing appropriate soil mix-

ture at respective sites and have been maintained in the shade house until they attain stage of transplanting in the

Ex Situ gene bank of pasture/medicinal plant species of Oman.

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ESTABLISHMENT OF EX SITU GENEBANK OF

INDIGENOUS MEDICINAL PLANT SPECIES OF OMAN

AbstractEstablishment of a field genebank of indigenous medicinal plant species of Oman was initiated in a shade-house

of about 900 m2 m at Rumais Research Station during October- November 2005. A list of medicinal plant species

that occur in rangelands and as crop species was prepared based on the information gathered from the several

interviews with herders during several collection missions and the literature on flora and fauna of Oman. The list

included a total of 101 medicinal plant species belonging to 90 genera and 48 families. These medicinal plant

species include 85 species from rangelands, 10 species from vegetable crops, 4 species from field crops and 2

species from fruit crops. The layout of Ex Situ genebank has been alphabetically in serpentine pattern. It was

planned to keep one plant of each species in each of four pots. Initial planting of available plants at shade house

that covers as many as 48% of species was done during November 2005. The plants of those species that are not

available at present will be collected during future collection missions and planted at their respective pots in the

Ex Situ genebank. This Ex Situ genebank will be first of its kind in Oman towards conservation of indigenous

medicinal plant species. The indigenous medicinal plant species are used phase wise on priority for characteri-

zation and seed multiplication (basic and bulk) for further utilization.

Ex Situ genebanks of any plant species be it of forage to food to medicinal value, could be considered as nation-

al asset to the country towards maintaining its bio-diversity. They would be beneficial to the country in terms of

conservation and utilization of indigenous germplasm to meet objectives of several issues on bio-diversity.

Collection missions of indigenous germplasm are frequently organized to collect propagation material of plant

species viz. seed, rhizomes, suckers, cuttings, bulbs etc for Ex Situ conservation in the laboratory or in the field

or shade-house and further utilization. Several collections missions were organized in the past by the Ministry

of Agriculture & Fisheries to collect indigenous germplasm of field and forage crops during 1980's. The collec-

tion missions for rangeland germplasm concerning forage plant species were organized in North Oman during

months of March and April in 2002 and 2003.

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Table 1. List of plant taxa of medicinal importance

Family name Scientific Name Local name Occur in or as

1. Aloeaceae Aloe vera L. Siql or Sabar Rangelands2. Amaranthaceae Aerva javanica L. Ra' Rangelands3. Anacardaceae Rhus aucheri Qataf Rangelands4. Apiaceae Coriandrum sativum L. Cobzra, kabzara or khabzara or Dhania Vegetable5. Apiaceae Daucus carota Gizr Vegetable6. Apocynaceae Rhazya stricta Harmal Rangelands7. Asclepiadaceae Caralluma aucheriana N.E. Br. Dhij Rangelands8. Asclepiadaceae Leptadenia pyrotechnica Marakh Rangelands9. Asclepiadaceae Pergularia tomentosa Ghalaqah Rangelands10. Asclepiadaceae Periploca aphylla Handaboob Rangelands11. Asteraceae Carthamus tinctorius L. Zafran Field crop12. Asteraceae Launea nudicaulis L. Hook. Huwah Rangelands13. Asteraceae Reichardia tingitana L. Halawla or huwwa or makn or murr Rangelands14. Brassicacea Anastatica hierochuntica Kaff Al-Maryam Rangelands15. Brassicaceae Physorhynchus chamaerrapistrum Boiss.Khophiz Rangelands16. Brassicaceae Raphanus sativus L. Fejel or figl or qusm Vegetable17. Boraginaceae Arnebia hispidissima L. Funn or lisn al thor Rangelands18. Boraginaceae Heliotropium crispum Desf. Rumram Rangelands19. Burseraceae Boswellia sacra Flueck Luban Rangelands20. Cactaceae Opuntia ficus-indica sabbar Rangelands21. Caesalpiniaceae Delonix elata Eyrir Rangelands22. Caesalpiniaceae Senna italica Ashriq Rangelands23. Caesalpiniaceae Tamarindus indica L. Sebbar or tamar al-hind Rangelands24. Capparaceae Cadaba farinose Forsaakal Simar or Surah Rangelands25. Capparaceae Capparis cartilaginea Decne Lusef, aslub Rangelands26. Capparaceae Capparis spinosa L. Lisaf or Lusef or fakouha or shafallah Rangelands27. Capparacea Cleome amblycarpa L. Mukhaisa Rangelands28. Capparaceae Cleome rupicola Vicary Mukhaiblutil-shams Rangelands29. Capparaceae Maerua crassifolia Sarh Rangelands30. Caricaceae Carica papaya L. Papaya or fifaiy Fruit crop31. Chenopodiaceae Atriplex halimus L. Rughul Rangelands32. Chenopodiaceae Cornulaca monocantha L. Thallg Rangelands33. Chenopodiaceae Haloxylon salicornicum Bunge Rimth Rangelands34. Chenopodiaceae Sueda aegiptiaca Hasselq. Suwwaida Rangelands35. Chenopodiaceae Sueda vermiculata Forsskal Suwwaida Rangelands36. Conoferophyta Juniperus excelsa Al-alan Rangelands37. Convolvulaceae Cressa cretica Nedewah or shuwwyl Rangelands

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38. Cucurbitaceae Citrulus colocynthis Handal Rangelands39. Cucurbitaceae Citrulus lanatus (Thunb.) Bateekh Vegetable40. Cucurbitaceae Cucumis sativus Kheyar Vegetable41. Cucurbitaceae Cucurbita maxima Qar Vegetable42. Ebenaceae Euclea schimperi Kilit Rangelands43. Euphorbiaceae Euphorbia balsamifera ssp.adenensis Tikedoha or tiskot or tehekot Rangelands44. Euphorbiaceae Euphorbia larica Asbaq Rangelands45. Euphorbiaceae Ricinus communis L. arash or kharwa or khirwa Rangelands46. Fabaceae Alhagi maurorum L. Aqul or Agul Rangelands47. Fabaceae Crotalaria aegyptiaca Nizaa Rangelands48. Fabaceae Taverniera glabra Asmat Rangelands49. Fabaceae Tephrosia purpurea Dhafra Rangelands50. Fabaceae Trigonella foenum-graecum Helba Vegetable51. Fabaceae Indigofera oblongifolia Uzlim Rangelands52. Fabaceae Medicago sativa L. Qat or get Field crop53. Labiatae Lavandula dhofarensis Heyem or ekulun or hibun Rangelands54. Labiatae Lavandula subnuda Sawmar, haraq Rangelands55. Labiatae Teucrium muscatense Jyaad Rangelands56. Lamiaceae Mentha longifolia L. Hudson Na’ana Farms57. Lamiaceae Thymus vulgaris Za’ater Rangelands58. Lamiaceae Ocimum basilicum L. Basil or Rehan Rangelands59. Liliaceae Adiantum capillus-veneris L. Khuwaisat-al ma’a Rangelands60. Liliaceae Allium cepa L. Basal Vegetable61. Liliaceae Allium sativum L. Thoom Vegetable62. Liliaceae Asphodelus fistulosus L. Mubsaila Rangelands63. Lythraceae Lawsonia inermis Henna Rangelands64. Malphighiacea Acridocarpus orientalis L. Qaphas Rangelands65. Meliaceae Azadirachta indica A.Juss Neem, shireesh Rangelands66. Mimosaceae Acacia ehrenbergiana L. Salam Rangelands67. Mimosaceae Acacia gerrardii L. Tulh Rangelands68. Mimosaceae Acacia niloticaa L. Qarat or Karat Rangelands69. Mimosaceae Acacia sinegalL. Thor Rangelands70. Mimosaceae Acacia tortilis L. Samar Rangelands71. Mimosaceae Prosopis cineraria L. Gaaf Rangelands72. Moraceae Ficus cordata sp. Salicifolia Vahl. Lithab Rangelands73. Moringaceae Moringa perigrina Shuh Rangelands74. Myrtaceae Myrtus communis L. Yaas or Myrtle or hads Rangelands75. Oleaceae Olea europaea Itm Rangelands


76. Pedaliaceae Sesamum indicum L. zait simsim or saltt gigilan Field crop77. Plumbaginaceae Dyerophytum indicum Kuntze Malihla Rangelands78. Plumbaginaceae Limonium axillare Qataf or gataf Rangelands79. Poaceae(Gramineae) Cymbopogon schoenanthus Sakhbar Rangelands80. Poaceae(Gramineae) Pennisetum setaceum Halfa Rangelands81. Poaceae(Gramineae) Phragmates australis Cav. Aqraban or hajna Rangelands82. Poaceae(Gramineae) Saccharum officinarum L. Qasab al- sukkar Field crop83. Polygonaceae Calligonum comosum L.’Herit Abl or Arta Rangelands84. Polygonaceae Pteropyrum scoparium Sidaf Rangelands85. Polyganaceae Rumex vesicarius L. Humayda, Humaid Rangelands86. Polypodiaceae Pteris vittata Khusa-tal ma’a Rangelands87. Portulacaceae Portulaca oleraceae L. Al-khalqa or barbir or ferfena or humdeh Rangelands88. Resedaceae Ochradenus baccatus Del. Gurdii or qirdi or qurdi Rangelands89. Rhamnaceae Zizipus spina-christi Sidr Rangelands90. Rubiaceae Crucianella membraneaea Muhtadi Rangelands91. Rutaceae Citrus aurantifolia L Loomi Fruit crop92. Rutaceae Haplophyllum tuberculatum Tafar al tays Rangelands93. Salvadoraceae Salvadora persica Raq Rangelands94. Sapindaceae Dodonaea viscosa Shahs Rangelands95. Solanaceae Datura metel L. Maranhah Rangelands96. Solanaceae Lycium shawii Qasad Rangelands97. Solanaceae Solanum incanum Shrinjiban Rangelands98. Tamaricaceae Tamarix aphylla Athal Rangelands99. Verbanaceae Avicennia marina L. Qurm Rangelands100. Zygophyllaceae Fagonia indica Shikya Rangelands101. Zygophyllaceae Zygophyllum propinquum Decne Harm Rangelands

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Table 2. List of plant taxa of medicinal importance (in alphabetical order)

Family name Scientific Name Local Name

1. Liliaceae Adiantum capillus-veneris L. Khuwaisat-al ma’a2. Mimosaceae Acacia ehrenbergiana L. Salam3. Mimosaceae Acacia gerrardii L. Tulh 4. Mimosaceae Acacia niloticaa L. Qarat or Karat5. Mimosaceae Acacia sinegalL. Thor6. Mimosaceae Acacia tortilis L. Samar7. Malphighiacea Acridocarpus orientalis L. Qaphas8. Amaranthaceae Aerva javanica L. Ra'9. Fabaceae Alhagi maurorum L. Aqul or Agul10. Liliaceae Allium cepa L. Basal11. Liliaceae Allium sativum L. Thoom12. Aloeaceae Aloe veraL. Siql or Sabar13. Brassicacea Anastatica hierochuntica Kaff Al-Maryam14. Boraginaceae Arnebia hispidissima L. Funn or lisn al thor15. Liliaceae Asphodelus fistulosus L. Mubsaila16. Chenopodiaceae Atriplex halimus L. Rughul17. Verbanaceae Avicennia marina L. Qur18. Meliaceae Azadirachta indica A.Juss Neem, shireesh19. Burseraceae Boswellia sacra Flueck Luban20. Capparaceae Cadaba farinose Forsaakal Simar or Surah21. Polygonaceae Calligonum comosum L.’Herit Abl or Arta22. Capparaceae Capparis cartilaginea Decne Lusef, aslub23. Capparaceae Capparis spinosa L. Lisaf, Lusef or fakouha or shafallah

24. Asclepiadaceae Caralluma aucheriana N.E. Br. Dhij25. Caricaceae Carica papaya L. Papaya or fifaiy26. Asteraceae Carthamus tinctorius L. Zafran27. Cucurbitaceae Citrulus colocynthis Handal28. Cucurbitaceae Citrulus lanatus (Thunb.) Bateekh29. Rutaceae Citrus aurantifolia L Loomi30. Capparaceae Cleome amblycarpa L. Mukhaisa31. Capparaceae Cleome rupicola Vicary Mukhaiblutil-shams32. Apiaceae Coriandrum sativum L. Cobzra,kabzara,khabzara,Dhania

33. Chenopodiaceae Cornulaca monocantha L. Thallg34. Convolvulaceae Cressa cretica Nedewah or shuwwyl35. Fabaceae Crotalaria aegyptiaca Nizaa36. Rubiaceae Crucianella membraneaea Muhtadi37. Cucurbitaceae Cucumis sativus Kheyar


38. Cucurbitaceae Cucurbita maxima Qar39. Poaceae (Gramineae) Cymbopogon schoenanthus Sakhbar40. Solanaceae Datura metel L. Maranhah41. Apiaceae Daucus carota Gizr42. Caesalpiniaceae Delonix elata Eyrir43. Sapindaceae Dodonaea viscosa Shahs44. Plumbaginaceae Dyerophytum indicum Kuntze Malihla45. Ebenaceae Euclea schimperi Kilit46. Euphorbiaceae Euphorbia balsamifera ssp.adenensis Tikedoha or tiskot or tehekot

47. Euphorbiaceae Euphorbia larica Asbaq48. Zygophyllaceae Fagonia indica Shikya49. Moraceae Ficus cordata sp. Salicifolia Vahl. Lithab50. Chenopodiaceae Haloxylon salicornicum Bunge Rimth51. Rutaceae Haplophyllum tuberculatum Tafar al tays52. Boraginaceae Heliotropium crispum Desf. Rumram53. Fabaceae Indigofera oblongifolia Uzlim54. Conoferophyta Juniperus excelsa Al-alan55. Asteraceae Launea nudicaulis L. Hook. Huwah56. Labiatae Lavandula dhofarensis Heyem or ekulun or hibun57. Labiatae Lavandula subnuda Sawmar, haraq58. Lythraceae Lawsonia inermis Henna59. sclepiadaceae Leptadenia pyrotechnica Marakh60. Plumbaginaceae Limonium axillare Qataf or gataf61. Solanaceae Lycium shawii Qasad62. Capparaceae Maerua crassifolia Sarh63. Fabaceae Medicago sativa L. Qat or get64. Lamiaceae Mentha longifolia L. Hudson Na’ana65. Moringaceae Moringa perigrina Shuh66. Myrtaceae Myrtus communis L. Yaas or Myrtle or hads67. Resedaceae Ochradenus baccatus Del. Gurdii or qirdi or qurdi68. Lamiaceae Ocimum basilicum L. Basil or Rehan69. Oleaceae Olea europaea Itm70. Cactaceae Opuntia ficus-indica Sabbar71. Poaceae (Gramineae) Pennisetum setaceum Halfa72. Asclepiadaceae Pergularia tomentosa Ghalaqah73. Asclepiadaceae Periploca aphylla Handaboob74. Poaceae (Gramineae) Phragmates australis Cav. Aqraban or hajna75. Brassicaceae Physorhynchus chamaerrapistrum Boiss. Khophiz

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76. Portulacaceae Portulaca oleraceae L. Alkhalqa,barbir,ferfena,humdeh77. Mimosaceae Prosopis cineraria L. Gaaf78. Polygonaceae Pteropyrum scoparium Sidaf79. Brassicaceae Raphanus sativus L. Fejel or figl or qusm80. Asteraceae Reichardia tingitana L. Halawla or huwwa or makn or murr81. Apocynaceae Rhazya stricta Harmal82. Anacardaceae Rhus aucheri Qataf83. Euphorbiaceae Ricinus communis L. Arash or kharwa or khirwa84. Polyganaceae Rumex vesicarius L. Humayda, Humaid85. Poaceae (Gramineae) Saccharum officinarum L. Qasab al- sukkar86. Salvadoraceae Salvadora persica Raq87. Caesalpiniaceae Senna italica Ashriq88. Pedaliaceae Sesamum indicum L. zait simsim or saltt gigilan89. Solanaceae Solanum incanum Shrinjiban90. Chenopodiaceae Sueda aegiptiaca Hasselq. Suwwaida91. Chenopodiaceae Sueda vermiculata Forsskal Suwwaida92. Caesalpiniaceae Tamarindus indica L. Sebbar or tamar al-hind93. Tamaricaceae Tamarix aphylla Athal94. Fabaceae Taverniera glabra Asmat95. Fabaceae Tephrosia purpurea Dhafra96. Labiatae Teucrium muscatense Jyaad97. Lamiaceae Thymus vulgaris Za’ater98. Polypodiaceae Pteris vittata Khusa-tal ma’a99. Fabaceae Trigonella foenum-graecum Helba100.Rhamnaceae Zizipus spina-christi Sidr101.Zygophyllaceae Zygophyllum propinquum Decne Harm

A similar mission was supported by ICARDA-APRP in 1998 for the North Oman in which as many as 68 seed

accessions of 28 taxa were collected. In 2002-03 our collection missions targeted the representative sites of seven

regions of Oman viz. Muscat, North Batinah, South Batinah, Interior, Dhahira, Sharqiya and Musandam. The

samples of 31 seed accessions of as many as 23 taxa, consisting 16 of forage grass species, 2 of forage herb (forb)

species, 10 of forage shrub species and 3 of forage tree species were collected in most sites. Besides, 31 herbaria

samples and samples of 10 seed accessions of indigenous medicinal plant species were collected. The Herbaria

have been kept preserved in the cupboard and samples of seed accessions have been preserved under cold stor-

age (Deep Freezers) at Seed and Plant Genetic Resources Research Lab. A database has been collected for pass-

port data in all sites.

In order to establish Ex Situ genebank of medicinal plant species, a list of medicinal plant species was prepared

based on the information gathered from the several interviews with herders during collection missions and the

literature on flora and fauna of Oman. The list included a total of 101 medicinal plant species belonging to 90

genera and 48 families. These medicinal plant species include 85 species from rangelands, 10 species from veg-

etable crops, 4 species from field crops and 2 species from fruit crops (Table 1). The layout of Ex Situ genebank

has been alphabetically (Table 2) in serpentine pattern. It was planned to keep one plant of each species in each

of four pots. Initial planting of available plants at shade house that covers as many as 48% of species was done

during November 2005. The plants of those species that are not available at present will be collected during

future collection missions and planted at their respective pots in the Ex Situ genebank.

This Ex Situ genebank will be first of its kind in Oman towards conservation of indigenous medicinal plant

species. The indigenous medicinal plant species are used phase wise on priority for characterization and seed

multiplication (basic and bulk) for further utilization.

REFERENCES

Ghazanfar, S. A., Miller, A. G., Mc Leish, I., Cope, T. A., Cribb, P. and Al-Rawahi, S. H. (1995). Plant

Conservation in Oman. Part-I. A study of the endemic, regionally endemic and threatened plants of the

Sultanate of Oman. April 1995. 15 p. Sultan Qaboos University, Oman.

GRM. (1989). Rangeland revegetation project in the southern region –final report. Ministry of Agriculture and

Fisheries. Sultanate of Oman.

MAF. (1990). Natural rangelands in the Southern Region. Rangeland and Forestry Department. Ministry of

Agriculture and Fisheries. Sultanate of Oman.

Mandaville Jr., J. P. (1975). Plants. In: The scientific results of The Oman flora and fauna and fauna survey

1975. The J. Oman Studies. 1975. Special Report. pp. 229-267.

MI. (1999). Oman 98/99: The Oman Information Handbook. Ministry of Information. Sultanate of Oman. 266 p.

Miller, A. G. and Morris, M. (1987). Plants of Dhofar. The Southern Region of Oman. Traditional, Economic

and Medicinal uses. The Office of the Adviser for Conservation of the Environment, Diwan of Royal Court.

Sultanate of Oman (Pub.). 361p.

RFD. (1995). Annual Report of Rangeland and Forestry Department, Salalah. Ministry of Agriculture and






Zaroug, M. G. (1983). The status of rangeland of the Southern Region of the Sultanate of Oman (Dhofar). FAO.

Zaroug, M. G. (1991). Rangelands of the Southern Region of Oman: Their characteristics and Aspects of

Development. FAO.

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REJUVENATION OF SEEDS OF INDIGENOUS RANGELAND FORAGE

SPECIES (UNDER APRP-PHASE-II 2.3.2)

AbstractRejuvenation activities of seed multiplication of six Cenchrus ciliaris L accessions viz. MF 179, MF 185, MF

190, MF 192, MF 236 and MF 266, were initiated in March 2005 in shade house of Rumais Research Station by

growing each in six pots as the seeds of these accessions were few in number (less than 20). Total husked-seed

quantities from six plants in each accession collected through two harvests were found to vary from 12.2 g (MF

185) to 48.1 g (MF 236). We were able to collect 33.2 g in MF 179, 12.2 g in MF 185, 28.7 g in MF 190, 23.5

g in MF 192, 48.1 g in MF 236 and 37.4 g in MF 266 of seed.

INTRODUCTION

Sultanate of Oman has a large area of rangelands in the Arabian Peninsula especially in Dhofar Jabal areas of

South Oman apart from the ones in the North Oman. More than 100 germplasm of different indigenous forage

grass, herb, shrub and tree species have been collected so far which are part of genetic diversity through ages and

are under use by the grazing animals. Few (e.g. Lasiurus hirsutus have been investigated for their good quality

forage as compared to Rhodes grass besides being capable to emerge under adverse conditions. The seeds of

indigenous rangeland forage species will have to be multiplied in large quantities before they are subjected future

in research for productivity under irrigation or reseeding depleted rangelands. Further, multiplication of seed of

indigenous rangeland forage species has been also one of the mandates of APRP -Phase-II (2.3.3). We had suc-

cessfully produced seeds of Cenchrus cilaris (UAE accession) and Coelachyrum piercei (UAE accession) dur-

ing 1999-2004. Present our efforts have been directed to rejuvenate the seed of our previous collections pre-

served in the genebank. To begin with, it was planned to initiate the activities of rejuvenation of six indigenous

accessions of Cenchrus ciliaris L collected during ICARDA-APRP-MAF coordinated collection missions in

1998.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The available seed (<20 in no.) of each of six indigenous accessions of Cenchrus ciliaris L. viz. MF 179, MF

185, MF 190, MF 192, MF 236 and MF 266, were first germinated in the laboratory (van Gastel et al. (1996) in

February 2005 and at least each of six 15-days old-seedlings of all accessions were transplanted in March 2005

in the pots containing equal proportion of sand, loamy soil and farm yard manure. The seedlings were fertilized

with 150 kg N, 150 kg P2O5 and 150 kg K2O per hectare per year in the form of urea, triple super phosphate and

potassium sulphate. The entire quantities of potassium and phosphatic fertilizers were applied after the establish-

ment of seedlings while N was applied in two split doses- N with P and K or after each harvest and remain-

ing 1/2 N at flag leaf emergence. The plants were irrigated daily @ 1 liter per pot till establishment for two weeks

á°UÓÿG »gh Ω 1998 ΩÉY É¡©ªL ” πNGóe áà°ùd ó«Ñ∏dG á°û«°ûM QhòH QÉãcEG IOÉYEG ‘ AóÑdG ”(MF 179, MF 185, MF 190, MF 192, MF 236 &

MF266).§°Sƒàe âMhGôJ .¢ù«eôdÉH á«YGQõdG çƒëÑdG á£ëÃ π∏¶ŸG â«ÑdG ±hôX â– 2005 ¢SQÉe ‘ πNóe πμd ¢ü°UCG 6 áYGQR ”h

ºL 12^2 ÚH ÚJó°ü◊ (¢û≤dG ™e) QhòÑdG øe á«LÉàfE’G(MF 185) ºL 48^1h(MF 236)`d ºL 33^2 ™ªL øμeCG Éª«a(MF 179)28^7h

`d ºL(MF 190)`d ºL 23^5h(MF 192)`d ºL 37^4h(MF266).

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and later three times a week @ 2 liters per pot during winter and 3 liters per pot during summer.

The plants of all the accessions started initiating flowering just within 70 days during June 2005, which were cut

at a height of 10 cm from ground level for fodder to allow them produce more tillers and grow vigorously sub-

sequently later for future seed crops. The species were physiologically mature during first week of September

2005 i.e. in about two month’s period. The mature seeds were manually collected from each plant by grasping

the panicles during Mid-September 2005, when the first harvest was taken up. The second crop came to heading

in 30-35 days and was harvested in the last week of October 2005. The data on husked seed yield harvested (col-

lected) have been recorded after cleaning the produce.

Table 1. Values of some physical and chemical characteristics of the experimental soil at Livestock

Research Center, Rumais.

PHYSICAL:

Coarse sand (%) 21.70

Fine sand (%) 63.00

Silt (%) 3.90

Clay (%) 11.40

Texture Sand

CHEMICAL:

EC (1:5) dS 5.70

PH (1:5) 7.80

Soluble Cations (meq./100g)

Na 65.90

K 0.77

Soluble Anions (meq./100g)

Cl 59.50

N (%) 0.04

Av.P (meq./100g) 15.76

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The details of seed quantity collected (with husk) in each harvest in respect of each accession of Cenchrus cil-iaris L are given in Tables 2. Total husked-seed quantities from six plants in each accession collected through

two harvests were found to vary from 12.2 g (MF 185) to 48.1 g (MF 236). We were able to collect 33.2 g in

MF 179, 12.2 g in MF 185, 28.7 g in MF 190, 23.5 g in MF 192, 48.1 g in MF 236 and 37.4 g in MF 266 of

seed.

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Table 2. Germination % and Seed quantity Collected (kg) at one harvest of six accessions of Cenchrusciliaris L. during the year 2004-2005

Harvests/Species Seed quantity Germination Test Results

Collected (Husked) (g) (Immediately After Harvest)

I- Harvest

1. MF 179, 20.2 0-3%

2. MF 185, 8.0 0-5%

3. MF 190, 18.5 0-4%

4. MF 192, 13.4 0-3%

5. MF 236 31.0 0-5%

6. MF 266 23.4 0-4%

II- Harvest

1. MF 179, 13.0 0-2%

2. MF 185, 4.2 0-3%

3. MF 190, 10.2 0-2%

4. MF 192 10.1 0%

5. MF 236 17.1 0-5%

6. MF 266 14.0 0-2%

Total Seed Quantity (g)

1. MF 179, 33.2

2. MF 185, 12.2

3. MF 190, 28.7

4. MF 192 23.5

5. MF 236 48.1

6. MF 266 37.4

Germination of 0-5% was observed in each accession in the initial germination test carried out using husked seed

immediately after harvest. This indicated presence of dormancy in the seeds (Nadaf et al., 2004).

REFERENCES

Nadaf, S. K., Al-Farsi, S. M. and Al-Hinai. S. A. (2002). Bulk seed multiplication of Indigenous rangeland

grass species in Oman. Annual Report. ICARDA-APRP 2001-02.

Nadaf, S. K., Al-Farsi, S. M. and Al-Hinai. S. A. (2003). Basic and bulk seed multiplication of Indigenous

rangeland grass species in Oman. Annual Report. ICARDA-APRP 2002-03.

Nadaf, S. K., Al-Farsi, S. M. and Al-Hinai. S. A. (2004). Basic and bulk seed multiplication of Indigenous

rangeland grass species in Oman. Annual Report. ICARDA-APRP 2003-04.

van Gastel, A. J. G., Pagnotta, M. A. and Porceddu, E. (Editors) (1996). Seed Science and Technology.

Proceedings of a Train –the-Trainers Workshop. 24 April to 9 May 1993, Amman, Jordan. International

Center for Agriculture Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), P.O. Box 5466, Aleppo, Syria. 311 pp.

MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF

SIX INDIGENOUS Cenchrus ciliaris L. ACCESSIONS OF OMAN

AbstractSix indigenous accessions of Cenchrus ciliaris L. viz. MF 179, MF 185, MF 190, MF 192, MF 236 and MF 266

collected during ICARDA-APRP- MAF Joint collection missions of 1998 were subjected to studies on morpho-

logical characterization from March 2005 to September 2005, until the crops were subjected to at least two seed

harvests. Representative samples of the accessions grown in pots under shade house at Agriculture Researh

Center , Rumais were collected at different growth stages. These samples were studied in the laboratory not only

for presence or absence of anthocyanin pigmentation on various plant parts but also for nature of morphological

characters. These investigations established distinct descriptors of six indigenous accessions of Cenchrus ciliarisL. in respect of pigmentation and morphological characters. All the accessions of Cenchrus ciliaris L. were char-

acterized in respect of as many as 22 pigmentation characters and 9 morphological traits. Six indigenous acces-

sions of Cenchrus ciliaris L. have been described based on their pigmentation pattern, morphological and quan-

titative characters.

INTRODUCTION

The Sultanate of Oman, situated at the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula, facing the Arabian Sea and Gulf of

Oman, is the third largest country in the Arabian Peninsula occupying 309, 500 sq. km. It has a variety of topo-

graphical features consisting of plains, wadis and mountains. The most important area for agriculture is the

coastal plain, which represents 3% of the total area. The mountain ranges occupy about 15% and the remaining

area that occupies 82% of the country is mainly sand and gravel desert (MI, 1999). The climate- that essentially

consists of warm, sunny winters and very hot summers- varies from region to region, with the coastal areas more

humid than the Interior and high altitude areas. In the South, Dhofar region has a moderate climate. With the

exception of Dhofar region in the South where monsoon rains occur between May and September, rainfall

throughout most of the country is generally light and irregular (<50 to 100 mm annually). Ground water is the

main source for irrigation and domestic use.

Oman has a large area of rangelands in the Arabian Peninsula. For instance, in Dhofar region itself, it has range-

land area of about 500 thousand hectares. Of late, these rangelands are slowly degraded due to prolonged spell

of drought since early 1990s and rise in ground water salinity all along the coastal regions. Indiscriminate heavy

á°UÓÿG »gh »∏ÙG ó«Ñ∏dG øe πNGóe áà°ùd ∂dPh ájôgÉ¶dG äÉØ°ü∏d á«ãëH á°SGQO AGôLG ”(MF 179, MF185 MF 190, MF 192, MF 236 &

MF266).å«M .1998 ΩÉY (GOQÉμjG) áaÉ÷G ≥WÉæŸG ‘ á«YGQõdG çƒëÑ∏d ‹hódG õcôŸG ™e ∑Î°ûŸG ™ª÷G èeÉfôH ∫ÓN É¡©ªL ” »àdGh

çƒëÑdG á£ëÃ π∏¶ŸG â«ÑdG ±hôX â– ¢ü°UCG ‘ É¡àYGQõH ∂dPh Ω2005 ÈªàÑ°S ¤EG ¢SQÉe øe AGóàHG »∏ÙG ó«Ñ∏dG á°û«°ûM ∞«°UƒJ ”

9h »¨Ñ°üdG ¿ƒ∏àdÉH á≤∏©àe áØ°U 22`d äÉJÉÑædG á°SGQO â“ ó≤d .äÉÑædG ƒ‰ πMGôe ∞∏àfl â∏ª°T äÉæ«Y ΩGóîà°SÉHh ¢ù«eôdÉH á«YGQõdG

äÉÑædG á«°UÉNh äÉØ°üdG √òg ÚH äÉbÓY OÉéjEG ≈∏Y óYÉ°ùj É‡ äÉØ°üdG √ò¡d äÓNóŸG √òg ÚH äÉaÓàNG OƒLh ÚÑJ óbh .ájôgÉX äÉØ°U

.á«∏Ñ≤à°ùŸG ™ª÷G äÉ«∏ªY ‘ äÉaÓàN’G √òg QÉÑàY’G Ú©H òNC’Gh á«Ä«ÑdG äGOÉ¡é∏d πªëàdG å«M øe

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grazing is yet another factor for reduced availability of good quality forage species in the rangelands. The result

of degradation of rangelands has been endangerment or even loss of indigenous plant species, accompanied by

low rangeland productivity. Rangelands assessment of the Dhofar Jabal areas had identified a great trend in

decreasing productivity and quality (Zaroug, 1983 and 1991; Yassin and Al-Shanfari, 1985; UNDP/FAO Project,

1990; MAF, 1990; GRM, 1989 and RFD, 1995, 1996, 1997). Decline in range quality reflected in the increased

abundance of herbs of poorer quality species at the cost of good quality forages that are in the stage of extinc-

tion due to over grazing. Decline in productivity on the other hand, is evidenced by lower forage yields and

increased dependence on concentrates and baled hay to maintain local herds. The loss of vegetation also results

in soil erosion and loss of wildlife habitat and food resources.

The indigenous pasture plants viz. herbs, shrubs, tree and grass species represent valuable genetic and econom-

ic resources that are in danger of being lost. Some species that currently have ecological and biodiversity values

may also have great economic value in the future as a source of adaptation to environmental stresses of heat,

drought and salinity. Oman recognizes the threat to its native pasture plant species. More than 100 germplasm

accessions of indigenous pasture species have been collected from the rangelands under ICARDA- APRP Phase

I during 1998 and Phase II during 2002, which are part of genetic diversity. In order to re-vegetate these degrad-

ed rangelands, seed of indigenous pasture species should be multiplied for further utilization. Before germplasm

utilization, all the collected germplasm need to be classified in different categories they belong with passport

information. Each species will have to be characterized for identification using most important highly heritable

morphological features depending on the extent of facilities available. These features called descriptors would

help in identification of true to type individuals in the plant stand of seed multiplication plots. Such descriptors

would be also of use in visual assessment for reaction to abiotic and biotic stres ses for identifying respective

favorable genes controlling tolerance.

The studies on characterization of species/accessions are being conducted since 2001-2002 at Seed and Plant

Genetic Resources Lab, Agriculture Research Center, Rumais of Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Sultanate

of Oman. During 2001-02, two cultivars of Cenchrus Ciliaris viz. an indigenous collection and Australian vari-

ety were characterized in respect of as many as 15 pigmentation characters and 7 morphological traits. However,

Coelachyrum piercei was characterized in respect of 12 pigmentation characters and 8 morphogical traits (Nadaf

et al., 2002). Investigations on characterization of two perennial rangeland forage species namely Lasiurus hir-sutus . (Buraimi accession) and Panicum Lasiurus hirsutus L. (Buraimi and Izki accessions) were further under-

taken during 2002-2003 (Nadaf et al., 2003). The Buraimi accession of gtrlies L was characterized in respect of

as many as 19 pigmentation characters and 8 morphological traits while the two accessions (Buraimi and Izki)

of Panicum turgidum L. were characterized in respect of as many as 19 pigmentation characters and 11 morpho-

logical traits (Nadaf et al., 2003). During 2003-2004, the results of investigations have established distinct

descriptors of three perennial rangeland forage species namely Lasiurus hirsutus L. (Mahara accession),

Panicum turgidum L. (Mahara accession) and Pennisetum divisum (Mahara accession) in respect of morpholog-

ical and pigmentaion characters. The accession of Lasiurus hirsutus L was characterized in respect of as many

as 19 pigmentation characters and 8 morphological traits while the accessions of of Panicum turgidum L. and

Pennisetum divisum L. were characterized in respect of as many as 19 pigmentation characters and 11 morpho-

logical traits (Nadaf et al., 2004). In the present project, six indigenous accessions of Cenchrus ciliaris viz. MF

179, MF 185, MF 190, MF 192, MF 236 and MF 266 collected during 1998 ICARDA-APRP-MAF joint collec-

tion missions, have been considered for morphological characterization during 2004-2005.


The available seed (<20 in no.) of each of six indigenous accessions of Cenchrus ciliaris L. viz. MF 179, MF

185, MF 190, MF 192, MF 236 and MF 266, were first germinated in the laboratory (van Gastel et al., 1996) in

February 2005 and at least each of six 15-days old-seedlings of all accessions were transplanted in March 2005

in the pots containing equal proportion of sand, loamy soil and farm yard manure. The seedlings were fertilized

with 150 kg N, 150 kg P2O5 and 150 kg K2O per hectare per year in the form of urea, triple super phosphate and

potassium sulphate. The entire quantities of potassium and phosphatic fertilizers were applied after the establish-

ment of seedlings while N was applied in two split doses- 1/2 N with P and K or after each harvest and remain-

ing 1/2 N at flag leaf emergence. The plants were irrigated daily @ 1 liter per pot till establishment for two weeks

and later three times a week @ 2 liters per pot during winter and 3 liters per pot during summer.

The plants of all the accessions started initiating flowering just within 70 days during June 2005, which were

cut at a height of 10 cm from ground level for fodder to allow them produce more tillers and grow vigorously

subsequently later for future seed crops. The species were physiologically mature during first week of September

2005 i.e. in about two month’s period. The mature seeds were manually collected from each plant by grasping

the panicles during Mid-September 2005, when the first harvest was taken up.

Representative samples of six indigenous accessions of Rumais viz. MF 179, MF 185, MF 190, MF 192, MF

236 and MF 266 grown in pots under shade house at Agriculture Research Center, Rumais were collected at dif-

ferent growth stages. These samples were studied in the laboratory not only for presence or absence of antho-

cyanin pigmentation on various plant parts but also for nature of morphological characters .

I. Plant Parts studied for presence or absence of anthocyanin pigmentation:

1. Culm: The collective name for the aboveground portion of the grass plant; jointed stem of a grass plant,

the true stem, and elongated internodes.

2. Leaf blade: The portion of the grass blade that separates from the stem at an angle (usually less than 90

percent), above the collar.

3. Leaf margin: It refers to peripheral area of the leaf blade.

4. Leaf tip: It refers to tip or pointed end of the leaf blade.

5. Leaf sheath: Portion of the grass blade that begins at the node and that wraps around the stem below the col

lar.

6. Sheath puvinus: It refers to part of the leaf sheath that covers the nodal part.

7. Pulvinus ring: It refers to the starting portion of the leaf sheath that surrounds the node.

8. Node/s: This is the solid portion of the culm and is also a point from which a leaf or a tiller or adventi

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tious roots originate. The pigmentation varies from light purple, violet to dark purple. Nodes by defini

tion refer to joints of the grass stem, each supporting a new leaf, punctuated by knobby swelling.

9. Nodal ring: This is a part of the stem which is just below the node .the pigmentation in this part is usu

ally inseparable from that of node – but in few cases the pigmentation in the nodal ring can be distin

guished from that of node. The color of this part is best observed by taking transverse section of the cen

tral nodal septum whose pigmentation varies from green, white, yellow to light purple, dark purple, vio

let and black.

10. Internode/s: The portion of the stem between two joints or nodes. It is the smooth solid (when young) or

hollow (when matured) part of the culm, short basally and long apically between the successive nodes.

The pigmentation in this part varies from faint purple lines to full purple almost as black, the yellowish

color is also seen. The pigmentation is usually observed when the plant is at flowering stage.

11. Leaf axil: It refers to the basal portion of the inside of the leaf sheath. The pigmentation in the axil varies

in intensity from light to dark purple either restricted at its lower portion or gets extended in its distribu

tion.

12. Ligules: The outgrowth of the upper and inner side of the grass leaf at the point where it joins the leaf

sheath. It provides additional support for the leaf as it grows away from the stem. This is also described

as a thin upright membranous structure present on the inside of the juncture at its base where the blade

joins the leaf sheath. It is often bi-lobed, ciliate or glabrous. The pigmentation in this part varies from few

purple specks to full purple and white.

13. Auricle/s: The turned, reinforced portion of the leaf blade as it leaves the leaf sheath at the collar region.

These are a pair of small, ear-like appendages borne at base of the blade, arise usually at the sides where

the ligule and the base of the juncture are joined. These structures may drop off in the older leaves.

Auricles may be colorless or with various shades of purple color.

14. Junctura (Collar): It is the triangular joint portion found ate the junction of the leaf sheath and leaf blade.

The pigmentation in juncture is independent of that in leaf sheath or leaf blade.

15. Junctura (Collar) back: It is the portion of the midrib present at the junction of leaf blade and leaf sheath

behind the Junctura. In the most of the varieties the pigment in the junctura and that in the junctura back

is completely associated but in certain varieties, the two are independently inherited.

16. Panicle base: It refers to the nearly solid node between the upper most internode of the first primary

branches of the panicle and usually bears no leaf or dormant bud.

17. Panicle axis: It refers to the main axis of the panicle that extends from the panicle base to the apex. The

axis is hollow except at the regions (nodes) where the primary panicle branches are borne.

18. Panicle pulvinus: It refers to the swelling in the axils the primary. Panicle branches are more noticeable

during panicle emergence.

19. Lemma: Chaffy bract or scale opposite the palea, the outer leaf or petal of the floret; it surrounds the actu

al reproductive plant parts.

20. Palea: Chaffy bract or scale opposite the lemma, the inner leaf or petal of the floret; it surrounds the actu

al reproductive plant parts.

21. Lemma/palea: These are the glumes enclosing the essential organs of the spikelet and at later stage, from

the husk or hull of grain. Perhaps there is no other character showing so much color variations as that of

lemma/ palea. Color in young stage and hence, observations are recorded twice once in the green stage

and next in ripening stage.

22. Glumes: Dry chaff-like bracts or leaves at the base of the spikelet; often these leaves or bracts provide

protection for the florets above them.

23. Anther: It refers to one of the male reproductive parts of the plant.

24. Stigma: It refers to one of the female reproductive parts of the plant.

25. Seed: A mature ovule; the essential part is the embryo contained within the integuments.

II. Morphological Characters/Traits:

1. Leaf blade length (cm): Length of leaf blade below flag leaf.

2. Flag leaf length (cm): Length of the leaf formed before panicle initiation.

3. Nature of node: It could be either straight or bent.

4. Plant Height: Height of the main culm from base (in cm)

5. Panicle type: Dense/loose or glabrous

6. Panicle length: Length of panicle of main tiller from panicle base (in cm)

7. Panicle exsertion: Distance from base of the flag leaf to the panicle base (in cm)

8. Shattering of seeds: No. of seeds fallen or shattered from the panicle (comparative)

The observations in respect of eight quantitative characters viz. plant height (cm), number of tillers, length (cm)

and breadth (cm) of leaf blade, length (cm) and breadth (cm) of flag leaf, panicle length and panicle exsertion

(cm) were recorded on five plants of each accessions at different stages of crop growth. The data on these quan-

titative characters were subjected to basic statistical analysis according to Gomez and Gomez (1980) by using

MSTAT-C and were classified as low, medium and high magnitude of expression using technique of frequency

intervals.


Cenchrus ciliaris L. is an important pasture grass. It is always as one of the potent components of rangelands

through out Oman during the collection missions. So far, at least 20 accessions have been registered in the four

collection missions carried by the staff of Seed and Plant Genetic Resources Lab, Ministry of Agriculture &

Fisheries since 1998 (Nadaf et al., 2000-2005). It occurs in all the regions of Oman right in the rangelands, road

sides, in the field and in the mountains along with other rangeland grasses. It is important mainly because of its

high yields, high level of nutrients, tolerance to drought conditions and crop pests and its ability to withstand

heavy grazing and trampling by livestock. Some strains are also good for forage during the wet season in the

tropics. It is often touted for its ability to increase the flow of milk in cattle and give a sleek and glossy appear-

ance to their coats. Cenchrut ciliaris L has also been used as folk remedies for kidney pain, tumors, sores and

wounds. It can be used as an anodyne (pain reliever), lactogogue (increase milk flow), diuretic, and as an emol-

lient.

105

106

Cenchrus ciliaris L. occurs as one of the potent components of rangelands through out Oman. It occurs in all the

regions of Oman right in the rangelands, road sides, in the field and in the mountains along with other rangeland

grasses.

Botanical Description:

Cenchrus ciliaris L is a perennial bunchgrass in the grass family (Poaceae). At maturity, it ranges in height from

10 to 150 cm (averaging 70 cm) tall. Stems of Cenchrus ciliaris can be either erect or decumbent, often forming

mats or tussocks. The leaf blades are bluish-green, 5 to 30 cm long and 2.5 to 11.0 mm wide, with the upper sur-

face soft hairy. The leaf sheaths of C.ciliaris are glabrous to sparingly pilose, 2 to 7 cm in length, and the ciliate

ligule is 0.5 to 1.5 mm. C.ciliaris can reproduce either vegetatively through rhizome or stolon production, or sex-

ually by seed. Flowering inflorescences of C.ciliaris are dense, cylindric, 2 to 13 cm long by 1.0 to 2.6 cm wide;

each inflorescence has 30 to 50 involucre bracts, and is colored purple, gray, or yellowish. Spikelets are either

solitary or clustered, and are surrounded by numerous conspicuous bristles. The spikelets are clustered into burs

(2 to 4 per bur), 2.5 to 4.5 mm long by 1.0 to 1.5 mm wide, lanceolate to ovate in shape, and gray to green. The

lower glume is 1.0 to 2.5 mm long, the upper glume 1.5 to 3.5 mm long, and the lower floret is either staminate

or sterile. The fruit is an ovoid caryopsis, 1.4 to 1.9 mm long by 1.0 mm broad (Hickman 1993; Duke 1983).

The results of present investigations have established distinct descriptors of six indigenous accessions of

Cenchrus ciliaris L. viz. MF 179, MF 185, MF 190, MF 192, MF 236 and MF 266 in respect of pigmentation

and morphological characters (Tables 1-6). All the accessions of Cenchrus ciliaris L were characterized in

respect of as many as 22 pigmentation characters and 9 morphological traits. Table 7 presents means of eight

quantitative characters in six indigenous accessions of Cenchrus ciliaris L. along with basic statistical parame-

ters viz. mean, minimum, maximum, Standard Error of Mean (S.Em.) and the range of values for their classifi-

cation in terms of their expression as short/less, medium and tall/more/high for each quantitative character. Six

indigenous accessions of Cenchrus ciliaris L. have been described as follows based on their pigmentation pat-

tern, morphological and quantitative characters.

1. Accession No. MF 179:

It is tall (>74.89 cm) with medium tillering ability (24.90 to 34.77). It has bent nodes and hence, appears to have

spreading growth habit. It has medium (9.65 to 15.44 cm) leaf blade and long flag leaf (>12.16 cm). It has dense

panicles with high panicle exsertion (>8.00 cm). It shatters more number of seeds at maturity.

It has most of its studied plant parts green or colorless except culm base (purple), anther (yellow) and seed

(black), which are variously pigmented.


It is short (> 60.27 cm) with high tillering ability (>34.77). It has bent nodes and hence, appears to have spread-

ing growth habit. It has short (<9.64 cm) leaf blade and short flag leaf (<7.67 cm). It has loose or glabrous pan-

icles with medium panicle exsertion (6.76 to 8.00 cm). It shatters more number of seeds at maturity.

Table 1. Anthocyanin pigmentation and morphological marker characters established in Cenchruscliliaris L. (Accession No. MF 179).

Marker Characters: Cenchrus cliliaris L. (Accession No. MF 179).

I. Pigmentation Characters (Anthocyanin pigmentation in):

1. Culm base Purple

2. Leaf blade Green

3. Leaf base Green

4. Leaf margin Green

5. Leaf tip Green

6. Sheath pulvinus Green

7. Pulvinus ring Green (covered)

8. Node Green

9. Nodal ring Green

10. Internode Green

11. Leaf axil Colorless

12. Auricle Colorless

13. Juctura Colorless

14. Junctura Back Colorless

15. Panicle puvinus Green

16. Panicle axis Green

17. Lemma/palea Green,

18. Lemma hair Green

19. Anther Yellow

20. Stigma Green,

21. Stigma feather Colorless

22. Seed Black

II. Morphological characters:

1. Leaf blade Medium

2. Flag leaf Long

3. Nodal nature Bent

4. Plant Height Tall

5. Tillering ability Medium

6. Panicle type Dense

7. Panicle length Long

8. Panicle exsertion High

9. Shattering of seeds More

107

108

Table 2. Anthocyanin pigmentation and morphological marker characters established in Cenchrusciliaris L. (Accession No. MF 185).

Marker Characters: Cenchrus ciliaris (Accession No. MF 185)


1. Culm base Purple

2. Leaf blade Green

3. Leaf base Green


5. Leaf tip Green


7. Pulvinus ring Green (not covered)

8. Node Green

9. Nodal ring Green

10. Internode Green







17. Lemma/palea Green


19. Anther Yellow

20. Stigma Green,


22. Seed color Black


1. Leaf blade Short

2. Flag leaf Short


4. Plant Height Short

5.Tillering ability High

6. Panicle type Loose

7. Panicle length Short

8. Panicle exsertion Medium





1. Culm base Purple

2. Leaf blade Green

3. Leaf base Green


5. Leaf tip Green


7. Pulvinus ring Green

8. Node Green (not covered)

9. Nodal ring Green

10. Internode Green








18. Lemma hair Purple

19. Anther Yellow

20. Stigma Green


22. Seed Black



2. Flag leaf Short


4. Plant Height Short

5. Tillering ability Low


7. Panicle length Medium



109

110




1. Culm base Purple

2. Leaf blade Green

3. Leaf base Green


5. Leaf tip Green



8. Node Green (covered)

9. Nodal ring Green

10. Internode Green









19. Anther Yellow

20. Stigma Green

21. Stigma feather Purple

22. Seed Black


1. Leaf blade Long

2. Flag leaf Long


4. Plant Height Tall


6. Panicle type Dense


8. Panicle exsertion Less





1. Culm base Purple

2. Leaf blade Green

3. Leaf base Green


5. Leaf tip Green




9. Nodal ring Green

10. Internode Green









19. Anther Yellow

20. Stigma Green


22. Seed Black



2. Flag leaf Medium


4. Plant Height Medium






111

112




1. Culm base Purple

2. Leaf blade Green

3. Leaf base Green


5. Leaf tip Green




9. Nodal ring Green

10. Internode Green









19. Anther Yellow

20. Stigma Green


22. Seed Black


1. Leaf blade Long

2. Flag leaf Long


4. Plant Height Medium




8. Panicle exsertion High


Table 7. Means of eight quantitative characters in six indigenous accessions of Cenchrus ciliaris L.

Sl. NO. Accession Plant Number Leaf blade Leaf blade Flag leaf Flag leaf Panicle Panicle

No. Height of Length Bredth Length Bredth length exsertion

(cm) tillers (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm)

1 MF 179 75.50 25.00 17.66 0.37 12.33 0.30 7.16 8.83

2 MF 185 45.66 44.66 3.83 0.30 3.17 0.26 3.83 6.83

3 MF 190 55.66 16.33 11.83 0.40 7.66 0.36 6.33 7.00

4 MF 192 89.50 15.00 18.83 0.36 16.66 0.30 7.83 5.50

5 MF 236 66.00 28.00 14.50 0.47 9.33 0.37 8.33 6.83

6 MF 266 70.50 30.50 21.25 0.45 13.75 0.35 7.50 9.25

Mean - 67.14 26.58 14.65 0.39 10.48 0.32 6.83 7.37

Minimum - 45.66 15.00 3.83 0.30 3.17 0.26 3.83 5.50

Maximum - 89.50 44.66 21.25 0.47 16.66 0.37 8.33 9.25

SE.M.(±) 15.33 10.82 6.25 0.06 4.80 0.04 1.62 1.41

Short/Less <60.27 <24.89 <9.64 <0.36 <7.67 <0.30 <5.33 <6.75

Medium 60.28 to 24.90 to 9.65 to 0.37 to 7.68 to 0.31 to 5.34 to 6.76 to

74.89 34.77 15.44 0.41 12.16 0.33 6.83 8.00

Tall/More >74.89 >34.77 >15.44 >0.41 >12.16 >0.33 >6.83 >8.00

It has most of its studied plant parts green or colorless except culm base (purple), anther (yellow) and seed

(black), which are variously pigmented.


It is short (>60.27 cm) with low tillering ability (<24.89). It has bent nodes and hence, appears to have spread-

ing growth habit. It has medium (9.65 to 15.44 cm) leaf blade and short flag leaf (<7.67 cm). It has loose or

glabrous panicles with medium panicle exsertion (6.76 to 8.00 cm). It shatters more number of seeds at maturi-

ty. It has most of its studied plant parts green or colorless except culm base (purple), lemma hair(purple), anther

(yellow) and seed (black), which are variously pigmented.


It is tall (>74.89 cm) with low tillering ability (<24.89). It has bent nodes and hence, appears to have spreading

growth habit. It has long (>15.44 cm) leaf blade and long flag leaf (>12.16 cm). It has dense panicles with less

panicle exsertion (<6.75 cm). It shatters more number of seeds at maturity. It has most of its studied plant parts

green or colorless except culm base (purple), anther (yellow), stigma feather (purple) and seed (black), which are

variously pigmented.


It is medium in height (60.28 to 74.89 cm) with medium tillering ability (24.90 to 34.77). It has also bent nodes

and hence, appears to have spreading growth habit. It has medium (9.65 to 15.44 cm) leaf blade and medium flag

113

114

leaf (7.68 to12.16 cm). It has loose or glabrous panicles with medium panicle exsertion (6.76 to 8.00 cm). It shat-

ters more number of seeds at maturity. It has most of its studied plant parts green or colorless except culm base

(purple), anther (yellow) and seed (black), which are variously pigmented.


It is medium in height (60.28 to 74.89 cm) with medium tillering ability (24.90 to 34.77). It has also bent nodes

and hence, appears to have spreading growth habit. It has long (>15.44 cm) leaf blade and long flag leaf (>12.16

cm). It has loose or glabrous panicles with high panicle exsertion (>8.00 cm). It also shatters more number of

seeds at maturity. It has also most of its studied plant parts green or colorless except culm base (purple), anther

(yellow) and seed (black), which are variously pigmented. These descriptors will be used later in identifying sim-

ilar or different ecotypes that we find in our future collection missions.

CONCLUSIONS

The present investigations have established distinct descriptors of six indigenous accessions of Cenchrus ciliarisL. viz. MF 179, MF 185, MF 190, MF 192, MF 236 and MF 266 in respect of pigmentation and morphological

characters. All the accessions of Cenchrus ciliaris were characterized in respect of as many as 22 pigmentation

characters and 9 morphological traits.

REFERENCES

Chatterjee, B. N. and Das, P. K. (1989). Forage crop production- Principles and Practices. Oxford and IBH

Pub. Co. Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi. 450 p.





MI. (1999). Oman 98/99: The Oman Information Handbook. Ministry of Information. Sultanate of Oman. 266

p.

Nadaf, S. K., Al-Farsi, S. M. and Al-Hinai, S. A. (2004). Seed Production of indigenous rangeland forage

species in Oman. Seed Info. 2004. July 12-14.

Nadaf, S. K., Al-Farsi, S. M., Al-Hinai, S. A., Al-Adawy, M. H. and Al-Hinai, R. S. (2004a). Effect of inter-

row and inter-plant spacing on seed yield and its related traits of indigenous rangeland and forage grass

species grown under drips and sprinklers. Presented in ICARDA-APRP Annual Meeting held in Muscat.

February 2004. Annual Report 2003/2004. pp. 104-108.

Nadaf, S. K., Al-Farsi, S. M., Al-Hinai, S. A., Al-Adawy, M. H. and Al-Hinai, R. S. (2004b). Effect of matu-

rity stage on seed weight per se and seed quality in indigenous rangeland and forage grass species. Presented

in ICARDA-APRP Annual Meeting held in Muscat. February 2004. Annual Report 2003/2004. pp. 109-120.







Skerman, P. J. and Riveros, F. (1989). Tropical grasses. FAO Plant Production and Protection Series, no.23.

pp. 266-274 and 283-288.

UNDP/FAO. (1990). Project finding and Recommendations. UNDP Project OMA/87/O13- Establishment of

range management program for the Southern Region. UNDP, Salalah.

van Gastel, A. J. G., Pagnotta, M. A. and Porceddu, E. (Editors) (1996). Seed Science and Technology.

Proceedings of a Train –the-Trainers Workshop. 24 April to 9 May 1993, Amman, Jordan. International

Center for Agriculture Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), P.O. Box 5466, Aleppo, Syria. 311 pp.

Yassin, T. G. and Al-Shamfari, S. A. (1985). Rangelands in Oman: management, problems and prospects. First

Int. Range Management Conference in the Arabian Gulf, Kuwait.



Development. FAO.

115

116

STUDIES ON NATURE OF REGENERATION OF

CACTUS (Opuntia spp.) ACCESSIONS IN CACTUS NURSERY

AbstractThe cactus nursery consisting of 38 accessions of different Opuntia spp. from different countries was established

during March-April 2005 under ICARDA-APRP. A total of 40 accessions that included 38 spineless accessions

known for its fodder use, received from the ICARDA-APRP office, Dubai and two spiny accessions known for

its fruits in Jabel Akhdhar Royal Farm, were planted in an un-replicated block at Rumais Research Station.

Studies on nature of regeneration of new pads among 40 cactus accessions of Cactus Nursery at ARC, Rumais

has clearly indicated that both accessions and recording times were highly significant (P<0.05) with respect to

regeneration of new pads. Interaction component was, however, not significant. Accession no. 69220 (OFI var

Lengissima) from Algeria had highest regenerated pads to the extent of 19.5 followed by accession no.

69241(OFI Thala) from Tunisia (16.50), accession no. 69248 (OFI Borj El Farag) from Beja- Tunisia (15.50),

accession no. 69245 (Ain –Bouderiess) from Tunisia (15.00), accession no. 73054 (O. faucicalis) from Afrique

Du Sud (14.50) and accession no. R-14 (Unknown) (14.50).

INTRODUCTION

Marginal lands are fragile ecosystems and when subjected to ploughing and indiscriminate vegetation removal

the result has been large-scale degradation and destruction of vegetative cover. The increasing scarcity of sever-

al indigenous plant species indicates the magnitude of genetic and edaphic losses. To reverse such desertifica-

tion trend and to restore the vegetative cover in marginal, semi-arid and arid areas, appropriate integrated pack-

ages can be applied for rangeland monitoring and natural resources conservation. This can be achieved by using

drought and desert tolerant species of cactus (FAO, 2001).

The cacti such as Opuntia species are important in arid zones because of their ability to (i) grow in “deserts” and

their drought tolerance; (ii) produce forage, fruit and other useful products; and (iii) mitigate long-term degrada-

tion of ecologically fragile environments (IFAD, 2003).

In view of the above, the cactus nursery consisting of 40 accessions of different Opuntia spp. from different

countries was established during March-April 2005 under ICARDA-APRP. The present studies on nature of

á°UÓÿG¬Ñ°ûd (GOQÉμjG) èeÉfôH øª°V ∂dPh 2005 ¢SQÉe ‘ ¢ù«eôdÉH á«YGQõdG çƒëÑdG á£fi ‘ π≤◊ÉH ¢ù∏e’G ÚàdG øe ÓNóe 38 áYGQR ”

ÚæKG ≈∏Y π≤◊G πªà°TG Éªc ¿Gƒ«ë∏d ∞∏©c É¡dÉª©à°S’ âaôY ¢ù∏eC’G ´ƒædG øe kÓNóe. 38 ≈∏Y â∏ªà°TG kÓNóe 40 øª°V .á«Hô©dG Iôjõ÷G

.Qôμe ¿hóH á«FGƒ°ûY ™£b ‘ π≤◊G áYGQR â“ .ô°†NC’G πÑ÷ÉH á«fÉ£∏°ùdG ´QGõŸG øe â©ªL ÉgQÉªK ΩGóîà°SÉH âaôY »cƒ°ûdG ´ƒædG øe

»KGQƒdG πNóŸG øe Óch IójóL ìGƒdG Qƒ¡X ÚH ájƒb ájƒæ©e ábÓY OƒLh ÚàdG øe IójóL ìGƒdG êÉàf’ π≤◊G Gòg ≈∏Y äÉ°SGQódG âë°VhG

≈∏Y’G ôFGõ÷G øe 69220 πNóª∏d áéàæŸG ìGƒd’G OóY §°Sƒàe ¿Éc .äÉfƒμŸG ∂∏J ÚH …ƒæ©e ÒZ πNGóàdG ¿Éc Éªæ«H äGAGô≤dG òNG äGÎah

ÜƒæL øe (14^5) 73054 πNóŸÉa ¢ùfƒJ øe (15) 69245 πNóŸÉa (15^5) (69248) πNóŸÉa (16^5) 69241 πNóŸG √ÓJ (19^5)

πNóŸÉa É«≤jôaG (R-14).(14.5)

regeneration of new pads in different accessions planted in the Cactus Nursery have been undertaken from May

to September 2005.


The cactus nursery consisting of 38 accessions of different Opuntia spp. from different countries was established

during March-April 2005 under ICARDA-APRP. A total of 40 accessions that included 38 spineless accessions

known for its fodder use, received from the ICARDA-APRP office, Dubai and two spiny accessions known for

its fruits in Jabel Akhdhar Royal Farm, were planted in an un-replicated block at Rumais Research Station. Four

paired-pads maximum of each cactus accession per row were planted in two rows at spacing of 2 m between

rows and 1 m between plants in a sandy soil under drip irrigation system. The drip lines were laid about at least

15 cm away from mother pads. About half-kg of FYM and about 20 g of 20: 20:20 NPK compound fertilizer per

hill were distributed before planting of pads. The pads were irrigated gently at weekly intervals for about an hour

so that each mother pad received about 2 liters of water of 1.2 dS/m. All the cactus accessions took about one

month to establish and show signs of sprouting new pads. No. of regenerated pads were recorded at two-month-

ly interval from May 9 2005 three times till September 13 2005. The data of observations was analyzed statisti-

cally as factorial CRD treating each of two rows of accessions as replicate and recording time and accessions as

factors according to Gomez and Gomez (1980) by using MSTAT-C.


Table 1 presents nature of regeneration of new pads i.e. mean number of new pads produced in various acces-

sions at three different times of recording.

Table 1. Nature of regeneration of new pads in different accessions at different times of recording

Sl.No.

1 4321 - 8 3 7.5 8

7 3.5 9.5 10

8 3.5 7 8

2 68247

3

4

69199

69210

Accession No.ECOTYPES AND/OR

VARIETIES

O.F.I DJ. BARGOU 68247

TUNISIA

MAXIMA V. LANCEOLATO

69199 ALGERIA

7 3 5 8O. TOMENTOSA

69210 ALGERIA

No. of regenerated pads

Time I(09.05.05)

Time II(28.07.05)

Time III(13.09.05)

No. ofpads

planted

117

118

Sl.No.

O. MAXIMA 69217 ALGERIA

O.F.I VAR LENGISSIMA

69220 ALGERIA

UNARMUS BURBAN 69223

ALGERIA

O.F.I THALA 69241 TUNISIA

O.F.I NOSTRALE FEMENI-

ANA 69234 CATANE - ITALY

O. SANGUINEA 69236 SICILE,

ITALIA

O.F.I THALA 69241 TUNISIA

O.F.I SBEITLA 69242 TUNISIA

AIN – BOUDERIESS 69245

TUNISIA

O.F.I AIN AMARA 69246

TUNISIA

O.F.I BORJ EL FARAG

69248 BEJA - TUNISIA

O.F.I GRASSA CAREF – 68

69219 ALGERIA

CAREFIN – 1 69198 ALGERIA

O.F.I VIB FP 2 73049

MEXIQUE

O. FAUSICALIS 73054

AFRIQUE DU SUD

O.F.I CHICO 73056

AFRIQUE DU SUD

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

8

7

7

9

8

7

7

8

7

5

8

8

8

8

8

8

3

9

1

1.5

2

1.5

6

5

4

3

6

5.5

5

4

6.5

4

9

17.5

4.5

7.5

5.5

4

15

9

11.5

5.5

13.5

8.5

5.5

12

12.5

8

10

19.5

5.5

9.5

6.5

5

16.5

14.5

15

8

15.5

12.5

6

12.5

14.5

9

69217

69220

69223

69233

69234

69236

69241

69242

69245

69246

69248

69219

69198

73049

73054

73056

Accession No.ECOTYPES AND/OR

VARIETIES


Time I(09.05.05)

Time II(28.07.05)

Time III(13.09.05)

No. ofpads

planted

119

Sl.No. Accession No.ECOTYPES AND/OR

VARIETIES

73058

73060

73062

73952

74071

74083

74110

74111

74112

75012

75018

75019

75032

CONLEA-L19

R-14

Nil-I

Nil-II

74112(29)

Jabel Akhdar-1

Jabel Akhdar-2

CARTHA 73058 TUNISA

TUMONTOSA 73060 INRAT,

TUNISIA

MAXIMA 73062 INRAT,

TUNISIA

O.F.I 73952 Medjez, El Bab

TUNISIA

O.F.I 74071 SBEITLA

O.F.I SEFROU 74083

MOROCCO

O. LAEVIS SP3 74110

NEW MEXICO

O. LAEVIS SP4 74111

NEW MEXICO

O. LAEVIS SP5 74112 MEXICO

DJ – SOLAH 75012 TUNISIA

EL BOROUJ 75018 MOROCCO

AIN JIMAA 75019 MOROCCO

O.SP. MADAGASCAR 75032

O.F.I CONLEA RUBESCENS

ALGERIA

UNKNOWN

UNKNOWN

UNKNOWN

O. LAEVIS SP5 74112 MEXICO

-

-

Mean


Time I(09.05.05)

Time II(28.07.05)

Time III(13.09.05)

No. ofpads

planted

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

6.5

2

2

3

5

5

5.5

3.5

6

4

4

3.5

4.5

8.5

5

6

6

3.5

2.5

0

8.3

10

4

6.5

5.5

5.5

7

8.5

6

11.5

6.5

6

8.5

7

14.5

13

10.5

10

5

3.5

4.5

10

11.5

5.5

7

9

7

10

10.5

10.5

11.5

11.5

7.5

10

8.5

9

14.5

12.5

11.5

8

5.5

5

8

8

7

5

7

8

5

8

6

8

6

8

6

7

6

6

9

6

4

6

8

Statistical parameters:

F-test LSD (5%)

Recording time ** 0.87

Accessions ** 3.17

Interaction NS -

120

The results indicated that both accessions and recording times were highly significant (P<0.05) with respect to

regeneration of new pads. Interaction component was, however, not significant(p>0.05). Regeneration of new

pads was slow but significant from first (8.3) to second (10.0) and third (10.9) recording times. Cactus acces-

sions showed highly significant (P<0.05) variation among themselves with respect to regeneration of new pads.

Accession no. 69220 (OFI var Lengissima) from Algeria had highest regenerated pads to the extent of 19.5 fol-

lowed by accession no. 69241(OFI Thala) from Tunisia (16.50), accession no. 69248 (OFI Borj El Farag) from

Beja- Tunisia (15.50), accession no. 69245 (Ain –Bouderiess) from Tunisia (15.00), accession no. 73054 (O. fau-

cicalis) from Afrique Du Sud (14.50) and accession no. R-14 (Unknown) (14.50) as compared to other cactus

accessions. These will be subsequently subjected for intensive multiplication of pads.

CONCLUSIONS

Studies on nature of regeneration of new pads among 40 cactus accessions of Cactus Nursery at Rumais Research

Station has clearly indicated that both accessions and recording times were highly significant (P<0.05) with

respect to regeneration of new pads. Interaction component was, however, not significant (P<0.05). Accession

no. 69220 (OFI var Lengissima) from Algeria had highest regenerated pads to the extent of 19.5 followed by

accession no. 69241(OFI Thala) from Tunisia (16.50), accession no. 69248 (OFI Borj El Farag) from Beja-

Tunisia (15.50), accession no. 69245 (Ain –Bouderiess) from Tunisia (15.00), accession no. 73054 (O. fauci-

calis) from Afrique Du Sud (14.50) and accession no. R-14 (Unknown) (14.50).

REFERENCES

FAO. (2001). Cactus (Opuntia spp.) as a forage. Edited by C. Mondragon-Jacobo and S. Perez-Gonzalez, and

coordinated for FAO by M.D. Sanchez, E.J. Arias and S.G. Reynolds. Produced within the frame work of the

FAO International Technical Cooperation Network on Cactus Pear. FAO Plant Production and Protection

Paper No. 169. 146 pp.

Gomez, K. A. and Gomez, A. A. (1980). Statistical procedures for agricultural research. Second Ed.

International Rice Research Institute., Philippines.

IFAD. 2003. Opuntia spp.: An efficient tool to combat desertification. Technical Advisory Notes: IFAD

Agriculture Technologies for Rural Poverty Alleviation. http://www.ifad.org/Irkm/tans/7.htm.

Mondragon-Jacobo, C., de Mendez-Gallegos, S. and Olmos-Oropeza, G. (2005). Cultivation of Opuntia for

fodder production: from re-vegetation to hydroponics. http:/www.fao.org//DOCREP/005/Y

2808E/y2808e0g.htm 08.08.2005.

121

STUDIES ON INFLUENCE OF PROPAGATION MATERIAL ON

REGENERATION OF CACTUS (Opuntia spp.)

AbstractOf the forty cactus accessions of the cactus nursery established during March-April 2005 under ICARDA-APRP,

two accessions viz. Accession no. 69220 (OFI var Lengissima) from Algeria that had highest regenerated pads

to the extent of 19.5 and accession no. 73049 (OFI VIB FB 2) from Mexique that had moderate number of regen-

erated pads (12.50) were used for study in the shade house of Agriculture Research Center, Rumais. Four types

of planting material namely 1. Whole pad, half pad, quarter pad and 1/8 pad were used as factors in two select-

ed cactus accessions. Each type of planting material was planted in four pots in June 2005. The observations were

recorded on each treatment for number of regenerated pads after one month of planting from July 20 2005.

Subsequently, recordings were continued at monthly intervals. A total five recordings have been made until last

recording of observation on November 20, 2005.The results indicated that all the main factors viz. accessions,

propagation material and counting time were highly significant (P<0.05) with respect to regeneration of new

pads. Only two-factor interaction between accessions x propagation materials was, however, highly significant

(P<0.05) while remaining interactions were found non-significant (P>0.05). Between the two accessions, no.

69220 (OFI var. Lengissima) from Algeria produced significantly (P<0.05) higher number of new pads (2.06) as

compared to other accession no.73049 OFI VIB FP2 from Mexique (1.70). In respect of propagation material,

whole pads produced significantly (P<0.05) highest number of new pads (2.85) followed by 1/2 pad (2.17), 1/4pad (1.85) and 1/8 pad (0.65). Thus, preliminary results of the investigation clearly revealed that irrespective of

the accessions, whole pads were found superior in regenerating significantly more number of new pads as com-

pared to 1/2 pad and 1/4 pad, which were 76% and 65% of whole pads.

INTRODUCTION





áá°°UUÓÓÿÿGG

(GOQÉμjG) èeÉfôH ∫ÓN øe 2005 ¢SQÉe ‘ ¢ù«eôdÉH á«YGQõdG çƒëÑdÉH ¢ü°üıG π≤◊ÉH ´QõæŸG ¢ù∏e’G ÚàdG øe ÓNóe 40`dG øª°V

(19^50) áéàæŸG ìGƒd’G Oó©d §°Sƒàe ≈∏YG ô¡XCG …òdGh ôFGõ÷G øe (69220) πNóŸG Éªgh Ú∏Nóe ΩGóîà°SG ” á«Hô©dG Iôjõ÷G ¬Ñ°ûd

â– ÚàdG áYGQR ¥ôW ¢†©H á°SGQód ∂dPh (12^50) áéàæŸG ìGƒd’G OóY ‘ êÉàf’G §°Sƒàe ¿Éc …òdGh ∂«°ùμŸG øe (73049) πNóŸGh

ΩGóîà°SG (3)h ìƒd ∞°üf ΩGóîà°SG (2)h πeÉc ìƒd ΩGóîà°SG (1) »gh ÚàdG ìGƒdG øe AGõLG ™HQG áHôŒ â“ .¢ù«eôdÉH á∏∏¶ŸG äƒ«ÑdG ±hôX

ìGƒd’G OóY äGAGôb òNG π¡à°SGh 2005 ƒ«fƒj ‘ äGQôμe 4 ‘ á«μ«à°SÓH ¢ü°UG ‘ AGõL’G √òg áYGQR â“ .ìƒd øªK ΩGóîà°SG (4)h ìƒd ™HQ

Ωóîà°ùŸG Aõ÷Gh Ú∏Nóª∏d ájƒæ©e ábÓY OƒLh èFÉàædG äô¡XCG .äGAGôb ¢ùªN ´ƒªÛ ô¡°T πc Iôe ºK áYGQõdG øe ô¡°T ó©H áéàæŸG Iójó÷G

πNóŸÉH áfQÉ≤e (2^06) ÈcG ìGƒdG OóY §°Sƒàe ôFGõ÷G øe (69220) πNóŸG ≈£YG .áéàæŸG ìGƒd’G ™e äGAGô≤dG òNG øeRh áYGQõ∏d

OóY ‘ á«LÉàfG ≈∏YG πeÉμdG ìƒ∏dG ΩGóîà°SG ô¡XG áYGQõdG ‘ Ωóîà°ùŸG Aõ÷G ¤G ô¶ædÉH .(1^7) §°Sƒàe ≈£YG …òdGh ∂«°ùμŸG øe (73049)

ΩGóîà°SG ¿G á°SGQódG √ò¡d á«dh’G èFÉàædG âdO ó≤d .(0^65) øªãdG ºK (1^85) ™HôdG ºK (2^17) ∞°üædG ΩGóîà°SG ¬«∏j (2^85) áéàæŸG ìGƒd’G

ìGƒd’G OóY øe %65h %76 âfÉc »àdGh ìƒd ™HQ hCG ∞°üf ΩGóîà°SG óæY èàæj ÉÃ áfQÉ≤e IójóL ìGƒdG êÉàfG ‘ Éjƒæ©e ¥Éa πeÉμdG ìƒ∏dG

.‹GƒàdG ≈∏Y πeÉc ìƒ∏H áéàæŸG

122

ages can be applied for rangeland monitoring and natural resources conservation (FAO, 2001). This can be

achieved by using drought and desert tolerant species of cactus. The cacti such as Opuntia species are important

in arid zones because of their ability to (i) grow in “deserts” and their drought tolerance; (ii) produce forage, fruit

and other useful products; and (iii) mitigate long-term degradation of ecologically fragile environments (IFAD,

2003).

Selection of propagation material depends on the purpose for which pads are grown. Joint paired pads are

extremely preferable as per FAO (2001) for intensive cultivation of Opuntia for forage production. However, for

immediate multiplication of pads in quick span of time, pad portions can also be used when propagation mate-

rial is scarce (Mondragon-Jacobo et. al. 2005) In view of the above, studies on influence of propagation materi-

al on regeneration of pads have been undertaken from June to November 2005 in the Shade house using two cac-

tus accessions.


Of the forty cactus accessions of the cactus nursery established during March-April 2005 under ICARDA-APRP,


to the extent of 19.5 and accession no. 73049 (OFI VIB FB 2) from Mexique that had moderate number of

regenerated pads (12.50) were used for study in the shade house of Agriculture Research Center, Rumais. Four

types of planting material namely 1. Whole pad, 2.half pad (vertical section), 3.quarter pad (vertical section) and

4.1/8 pad (vertical section) were used as factors in two selected cactus accessions. Care was taken to maintain at

least two to three areoles in each face of propagation material. Each type of propagation material was planted in

four pots containing sandy soil in June 2005. About half-kg of FYM and about 20 g of 20: 20:20 NPK compound

fertilizer per pot were distributed before planting of pads. The pads were irrigated gently at weekly intervals so

that each mother pad received about 2 liters of water of 1.2 dS/m. The observations were recorded on each

treatment for number of regenerated pads after one month of planting from July 20, 2005. Subsequently,

recordings were continued at monthly intervals. A total five recordings have been made until last recording of

observation on November 20, 2005. The data were subjected to statistical analysis considering factorial CRD

with three factors (accessions, planting material and counting time) according to Gomez and Gomez, 1980 by

using MSTAT-C.


Table 1 presents means of regenerated new pads in two cactus accessions from four propagation materials in five

counting times. The results indicated that all the main factors viz. accessions, propagation material and counting

time were highly significant (P<0.05) with respect to regeneration of new pads. Only two-factor interaction

between accessions x propagation materials was, however, highly significant (P<0.05) while remaining interac-

tions were found non-significant (P>0.05). Regeneration of new pads was slow but significant (P<0.05) from

first (0.94) to second (1.72) and third (2.25). Later, regeneration of new pads was apparently stopped in subse-

quent two counting times (2.25), indicating that after three months in cactus photosynthates of the new pads

would be used for further growth and development but not for reproduction (regeneration). Between the two

accessions, no. 69220 (OFI var. Lengissima) from Algeria produced significantly (P<0.05) higher number of

new pads (2.06) as compared to other accession no.73049 OFI VIB FP2 from Mexique (1.70). In respect of prop-

agation material, whole pads produced significantly (P<0.05) highest number of new pads (2.85) followed by 1/2

123

pad (2.17), 1/4 pad (1.85) and 1/8 pad (0.65). Between the two accessions, no. 69220 had significantly (P>0.05)

more number of new pads when planted whole pad (3.05), 1/2 pad (2.70), 1/4 pad (2.05) and 1/8 pad (0.45) as com-

pared to other accession no. 73049 in which whole pad, 1/2 pad, 1/4 pad and 1/8 pad produced respectively 2.65,

1.65, 1.65 and 0.85 new pads. Thus preliminary results of the investigation clearly revealed that irrespective of

the accessions, whole pads were found superior in regenerating significantly more number of new pads as com-

pared to 1/2 pad and 1/4 pad, which were 76% and 65% of whole pads.

Table 1. Means of regenerated pads in two cactus accessions from four propagation materials in five

counting times.

Time 1 (20.07.05) Time 2 (20.08.05) Time 3 (20.09.05)

Accession No. Whole 1/2 1/4 1/8 Whole 1/2 1/4 1/ 8 Whole 1/2 1/4 1/8

pad pad pad pad pad pad pad pad pad pad pad pad

O.F.I

VAR

LENGISSIMA 1.75 1.25 0.75 0.25 3.00 2.50 2.00 0.50 3.50 3.25 2.50 0.50

69220

ALGERIA

O.F.I

VIB FP 2

73049 1.50 1.00 0.50 0.50 2.00 1.25 1.75 0.75 3.25 2.00 2.00 1.00

MEXIQUE

Mean

(Regeneration material 1.63 1.13 0.63 0.38 2.50 1.88 1.88 0.63 3.38 2.63 2.25 0.75

Mean (Time) 0.94 1.72 2.25

Time 4 (20.10.05) Time 5 (20.11.05) Mean

Accession No. Whole 1/2 1/4 1/8 Whole 1/2 1/4 1/ 8 Whole 1/2 1/4 1/8

pad pad pad pad pad pad pad pad pad pad pad pad

O.F.I

VAR LENGISSIMA

69220 3.50 3.25 2.50 0.50 3.00 3.25 2.50 0.50 3.05 2.70 2.05 0.45

ALGERIA

O.F.I

VIB FP 2

73049 3.25 2.00 2.00 1.00 3.25 2.00 2.00 1.00 2.65 1.65 1.65 0.85

MEXIQUE

Mean Regeneration 3.38 2.63 2.25 0.75 3.38 2.63 2.25 0.75 2.85 2.17 1.85 0.65

Mean (Time) 2.25 2.25 1.88

124

Statistical Parameters:

F-test LSD (5%)

Accessions * 0.28

Regeneration material ** 0.39

Accessions x Regeneration material ** 0.56

Counting time ** 0.44

Accessions x Counting time NS -

Regeneration material x Counting time NS -

Accessions x Regeneration material x Counting time NS -

CONCLUSIONS

The preliminary results of the studies on influence of propagation material on regeneration of cactus (Opuntiaspp.) have indicated that irrespective of the accessions, whole pads were found superior in regenerating signifi-

cantly more number of new pads as compared to 1/2 pad and 1/4 pad, which were 76% and 65% of whole pads.

REFERENCES

FAO. (2001). Cactus (Opuntia spp.) as a forage. Edited by C. Mondragon-Jacobo and S. Perez- Gonzalez, and

coordinated for FAO by M.D. Sanchez, E.J. Arias and S.G. Reynolds. Produced within the framework of the





IFAD. 2003. Opuntia spp.: An efficient tool to combat desertification. Technical Advisory Notes: IFAD




2808E/y2808e0g.htm 08.08.2005.

125

STUDIES ON INFLUENCE OF METHOD

OF PLANTING ON REGENERATION OF CACTUS (Opuntia spp.)

AbstractOf the forty cactus accessions of the cactus nursery established during March-April 2005 under ICARDA-APRP,


to the extent of 19.5 and accession no. 73049 (OFI VIB FB 2) from Mexique that had moderate number of regen-

erated pads (12.50) were used for study in the shade house of Agriculture Research Center, Rumais. Three meth-

ods of planting namely 1. along the growing axis, 2. opposite of growing axis and 3. flat- submerged, were con-

sidered as factors in two selected cactus accessions. In each accession, half pads were used as propagation mate-

rial. Care was taken to maintain at least two to three areoles in each face of propagation material. Half pad of

each accession was planted in four pots containing sandy soil according to each method of planting in August

2005. The observations were recorded on each treatment for number of regenerated pads after two months of

planting from October 20, 2005. Subsequently, recordings were continued at monthly intervals. Only two record-

ings have been made until last recording of observation on November 20, 2005. The preliminary results indicat-

ed that all the main factors viz. accessions, planting method and counting time as well their interactions were not

significant (P>0.05) with respect to regeneration of new pads. The results indicated that there was no significant

difference between the methods of planting (P>0.05) with respect to number of new pads produced in each cac-

tus accession studied in both the counting times. However, numbers of new pads produced were numerically

higher in that method of planting where half pads were planted vertically along the growing axis (0.75) as com-

pared to flat-submerged (0.69) and planting opposite of growing axis (0.63). Between the two accessions, no.

73049 OFI VIB FP2 from Mexique produced numerically higher number of new pads (0.79) as compared to

other accession no. 69220 (OFI var. Lengissima) from Algeria (0.58). There was marginal insignificant rise in

the number of new pads from first counting time (0.67) to second counting time (0.71). Thus preliminary results

of the investigation clearly revealed that irrespective of the accessions, planting along the growing axis was

found numerically superior in regenerating more number of new pads as compared planting opposite of growing

axis and planting flat-submerged, which were 84% and 92% inferior to planting along the growing axis.


(GOQÉμjG) èeÉfôH ∫ÓN øe 2005 ¢SQÉe ‘ ¢ù«eôdÉH á«YGQõdG çƒëÑdÉH ¢ü°üıG π≤◊ÉH ´QõæŸG ¢ù∏e’G ÚàdG øe πNóe 40`dG øª°V

(19^50) áéàæŸG ìGƒd’G Oó©d §°Sƒàe ≈∏YG ô¡XCG …òdGh ôFGõ÷G øe (69220) πNóŸG Éªgh Ú∏Nóe ΩGóîà°SG ” á«Hô©dG Iôjõ÷G ¬Ñ°ûd

â– ÚàdG áYGQR ¥ôW ¢†©H á°SGQód ∂dPh (12^50) áéàæŸG ìGƒd’G OóY ‘ êÉàf’G §°Sƒàe ¿Éc …òdGh ∂«°ùμŸG øe (73049) πNóŸGh

πμ°ûH (3)h ƒªædG Qƒfi √ÉŒG ¢ùμY (2)h ƒªædG Qƒfi √ÉŒÉH (1) ÚàdG ìGƒdG áYGQõd ¥ôW çÓK áHôŒ â“ .¢ù«eôdÉH á∏∏¶ŸG äƒ«ÑdG ±hôX

òNG π¡à°SG äÉÑfG ¿ƒ«Y 3-2 OƒLh IÉYGôe ™e 2005 ¢ù£°ùZG ‘ äGQôμe á©HQCÉH á«μ«à°SÓH ¢ü°UG ‘ ìƒd ∞°üf áYGQR â“ .í£Ñæe

Ú∏Nóª∏d ájƒæ©e ábÓY OƒLh ΩóY èFÉàædG äô¡XCG .¤hC’G IAGô≤dG øe ô¡°T ó©H ºK áYGQõdG øe øjô¡°T ó©H áéàæŸG Iójó÷G ìGƒd’G OóY äGAGôb

√ÉŒÉH áYGQõdG á≤jôW ¿G èFÉàædG âdO .áéàæŸG ìGƒd’G ™e πeGƒ©dG √òg ÚH Éª«a πYÉØàdGh äGAGô≤dG òNG øeRh áYGQõ∏d áeóîà°ùŸG ¥ô£dGh

ó≤d .(0^69) í£Ñæe πμ°ûH áYGQõdG óæY hCG (0^63)ƒªædG Qƒfi √ÉŒG ¢ùμY áYGQõdÉH áfQÉ≤e (0^75) ≈∏YG ìGƒdG OóY §°Sƒàe â£YG ƒªædG Qƒfi

126

INTRODUCTION





ages can be applied for rangeland monitoring and natural resources conservation (FAO, 2001). This can be

achieved by using drought and desert tolerant species of cactus. The cacti such as Opuntia species are important

in arid zones because of their ability to (i) grow in “deserts” and their drought tolerance; (ii) produce forage, fruit

and other useful products; and (iii) mitigate long-term degradation of ecologically fragile environments (IFAD,

2003).

Selection of propagation material depends on the purpose for which pads are grown. Joint paired pads are

extremely preferable as per FAO (2001) for intensive cultivation of Opuntia for forage production. However, for

immediate multiplication of pads in quick span of time, pad portions can also be used when propagation mate-

rial is scarce (Mondragon-Jacobo et. al. 2005). The preliminary results of our studies on influence of propaga-

tion material on regeneration of cactus (Opuntia spp.) have indicated that irrespective of the accessions, whole

pads were found superior in regenerating significantly more number of new pads as compared 1/2 pad and 1/4 pad,

which were 76% and 65% superior to whole pads. It is well known that in re-vegetation of the rangelands cac-

tus propagation material may be laid or thrown in any orientation on the initial moist surface of the soil at the

time of reseeding. It might lie in vertical orientation along or opposite to the growing axis and might lie flat on

the soil surface. In view of such expected changes in orientation of pads in re-vegetation process, the present

studies on knowing the influence of method of planting on regeneration of cactus (Opuntia spp.) pads have been

undertaken from July to November 2005 in the Shade house using two cactus accessions.


Of the forty Cactus accessions of the cactus nursery established during March-April 2005 under ICARDA-

APRP, two accessions viz. Accession no. 69220 (OFI var Lengissima) from Algeria that had highest regenerat-

ed pads to the extent of 19.5 and accession no. 73049 (OFI VIB FB 2) from Mexique that had moderate number

of regenerated pads (12.50) were used for study in the shade house of Agriculture Research Center, Rumais.

Three methods of planting namely 1. along the growing axis, 2. opposite of growing axis and 3. flat- submerged,

were considered as factors in two selected cactus accessions. In each accession, half pads were used as propaga-

tion material. Care was taken to maintain at least two to three areoles in each face of propagation material. Half

pad of each accession was planted in four pots containing sandy soil according to each method of planting in

August 2005. About half-kg of FYM and about 20 g of 20: 20:20 NPK compound fertilizer per pot were distrib-

OóY §°Sƒàe ¿CG Éªc (0^58) ôFGõ÷G øe (69220) πNóª∏d ¬æY (0^79) ∂«°ùμŸG øe (73049) πNóª∏d ≈∏YG áéàæŸG ìGƒd’G OóY §°Sƒàe ¿Éc

√ÉŒÉH áYGQõdG ¿G á°SGQódG √ò¡d á«dh’G èFÉàædG âdO ó≤d .(0^67) ¤h’G IÎØdÉH áfQÉ≤e (0^71) ≈∏YCG ¿Éc á«fÉãdG IÎØdG ‘ áéàæŸG ìGƒd’G

%92h %84 âfÉc »àdGh í£Ñæe πμ°ûH áYGQõdG h ƒªædG Qƒfi √ÉŒG ¢ùμY áYGQõdG óæY èàæj ÉÃ áfQÉ≤e IójóL ìGƒdG êÉàfG ‘ ¥Éa ƒªædG Qƒfi

.‹GƒàdG ≈∏Y ƒªædG Qƒfi √ÉŒG áYGQõdÉH áéàæŸG ìGƒd’G OóY øe

127

uted before planting of pads. The pads were irrigated gently at weekly intervals so that each mother pad received

about 2 liters of water of 1.2 dS/m. The observations were recorded on each treatment for number of regenerat-

ed pads after two months of planting from October 20 2005. Subsequently, recordings were continued at month-

ly intervals. Only two recordings have been made until last recording of observation on November 20 2005. The

data were subjected to statistical analysis considering factorial CRD with three factors (accessions, planting

method and counting time) according to Gomez and Gomez, 1980 by using MSTAT-C.


Table 1 presents means of regenerated new pads in two cactus accessions in three methods of planting in two

counting times. The preliminary results indicated that all the main factors viz. accessions, planting method and

counting time as well their interactions were not significant (P>0.05) with respect to regeneration of new pads.

Hence any interpretation of present results with respect to main factors and their interactions would be only com-

parative and logical but not with statistical confirmation. The results indicated that there was no significant dif-

ference between the methods of planting (P>0.05) with respect to number of new pads produced in each cactus

accession studied in both the counting times. However, numbers of new pads produced were numerically high-

er in that method of planting where half pads were planted vertically along the growing axis (0.75) as compared

to flat-submerged (0.69) and planting opposite of growing axis (0.63). Between the two accessions, no. 73049

OFI VIB FP2 from Mexique produced numerically higher number of new pads (0.79) as compared to other

accession no. 69220 (OFI var. Lengissima) from Algeria (0.58). There was marginal insignificant rise in the

number of new pads from first counting time (0.67) to second counting time (0.71).

Table 1. Means of regenerated pads in two cactus accessions in three methods of planting in two count-

ing times

Time 1 (20.10.05) Time 2 (20.11.05) Mean

Accession No. Along Opposite Flat- Along Opposite Flat- Along Opposite Flat-

growing of Submerged growing of Submerged growing of Submerged

axis growing axis growing axis growing

axis axis axis

O.F.I

VAR LENGISSIMA

69220 0.50 0.75 0.50 0.50 0.75 0.50 0.50 0.75 0.50

ALGERIA

O.F.I

VIB FP 2

73049 1.00 0.50 0.75 1.00 0.50 1.00 1.00 0.50 0.87

MEXIQUE

Mean (Regeneration

material 0.75 063 0.63 0.75 0.63 0.75 0.75 0.63 0.69

Mean (Time) 0.67 0.71 0.69

128

Statistical Parameters:

F-test LSD (5%)

Accessions NS -

Planting method NS -

Accessions x Planting method NS -

Counting time NS -

Accessions x Counting time NS -

Planting method x Counting time NS -

Accessions x Planting method x Counting time NS -

Thus preliminary results of the investigation clearly revealed that irrespective of the accessions, planting along

the growing axis was found numerically superior in regenerating more number of new pads as compared plant-

ing opposite of growing axis and planting flat-submerged, which were 84% and 92% inferior to planting along

the growing axis.

CONCLUSIONS

The preliminary results of the investigation clearly revealed that irrespective of the accessions, planting along

the growing axis was found numerically superior in regenerating more number of new pads as compared plant-

ing opposite of growing axis and planting flat-submerged, which were 84% and 92% inferior to planting along

the growing axis.

REFERENCES

FAO. (2001). Cactus (Opuntia spp.) as a forage. Edited by C. Mondragon-Jacobo and S. Perez- Gonzalez, and

coordinated for FAO by M.D. Sanchez, E.J. Arias and S.G. Reynolds. Produced within the frame work of the





IFAD. 2003. Opuntia spp. An efficient tool to combat desertification. Technical Advisory Notes: IFAD




2808E/y2808e0g.htm 08.08.2005.

129

ICARDA -APRP ACTIVITIES IN OMAN

(PHASES- I & II)

FORAGE & RANGE-LAND COMPONENT

AbstractICARDA-APRP activities in the rangeland component have been undertaken in Oman from early 1998 when the

ICARDA-APRP-MAF joint-collection missions were initiated for Northern Part of Oman in respect of Phase I

to Phase II which was concluded in December 2005. During this period, diversified activities were held in vari-

ous areas of rangeland component, which have been summarized in two parts-I. Salient Results and II.

Achievements. In salient results, ouputs of the activities concerning collection missions, seed multiplication,

interaction with salinity, agricultural practices for seed production, seed harvesting time, nature of seed harvest

and characterization of indigenous pasture species and establishment of seed technology unit have been briefed.

Besides, future prospects of collections and conservations and their expected benefits have been highlighted. In

salient achievements, as many as eleven outputs of ICARDA-APRP activities in the rangeland component hav-

ing practical implications for Oman have been enlisted.

ICARDA-APRP activities in the rangeland component have been undertaken in Oman from early 1998 when the

ICARDA-APRP-MAF joint- collection missions were initiated for Northern Part of Oman in respect of Phase I

to Phase II which was concluded in December 2005. During this period diversified activities were held in vari-

ous areas of rangeland component, which have been summarized in two parts-I. Salient Results and II.

Achievements, as follows.

I. SALIENT RESULTS

Collection Missions:

Collection missions in collaboration with ICARDA were begun in 1998 in which 68 seed accessions were col-

lected represented 28 taxa of northern Oman. In 2001 collection mission, as many as 23 seed accessions of dif-

ferent pasture plant species were collected. All these accessions have been sent to ICARDA genebank for preser-

vation.

Seed Multiplication:

Seed multiplication of some indigenous rangeland grass species was carried out to increase the quantity of seed


øe ¿ƒ°üàfl ΩÉb ÉeóæY 1998 ΩÉY ôμÑe âbh òæe ¿ÉªY áæ£∏°ùH á«Hô©dG Iôjõ÷G ¬Ñ°ûd (GOQÉμjG) èeÉfÈd »YGôŸG ´É£b á£°ûfG äCGóH ó≤d

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130

for further investigations and reseeding in degraded rangelands. In Sohar Research Station, such investigation

was carried out between March 2000 and February 2002 to produce seeds of Cenchrus ciliaris L and

Coelachyrum piercei L under drip irrigation system. As much as 13.6 kg of Cenchrus seed and 12.6 kg of

Coelachyrum seed were collected during that period. Bulk seed production as well as basic seed multiplication

plots will be established for different indigenous grass species in different Oman regions.

Interaction with salinity:

To study the response of indigenous rangeland species to varying levels of salinity, two experiments were car-

ried out. In the first one, the salinity was imposed directly after germination while in the second, the treatment

was commenced after the first cut. Cenchrus ciliaris L (Local & Australian), Coelachyrum piercei and Chlorisgayana (Katambora and Callide) were assessed for seven levels (Control, 1 dS m-1, 3 dS m-1, 6 dS m-1, 9 dS

m-1, 12 dS m-1, 15 dS m-1 and 18 dS m-1) of water salinity. Chloris gayana L was more tolerant than Australian

Cenchrus followed by local Cenchrus and then Coelachyrum. Grass species tend to lose capability of persisten-

cy if they are exposed to salinity stress from the stage of germination.

Agricultural Practices for Seed Production:

Investigations on seed production of Cenchrus ciliaris L and Coelachyrum piercei L under drip and sprinkler irri-

gation systems were done with two inter-row spacing (100 cm and 50 cm) and three inter-plant spacing (100 cm,

50 cm and 25 cm). The grass species gave high seed yield owing to the formation of more number of panicles

under wider row (100 cm) spacing that had low plant density.

Seed Harvesting Time:

Effect of maturity stage on seed quantity and quality for Cenchrus ciliaris L and Coelachyrum piercei L was

studied under two locations (Jimah and Rumais). Four stages were proposed- at physiological maturity (PM),

one week after physiological maturity stage (1WAPM) two weeks after physiological maturity stage (2WAPM)

and three weeks after physiological maturity stage (3WAPM). Gradual and significant decrease in seed

weight/inflorescence from physiological maturity (PM) to the subsequent stages. On the contrary, there was sig-

nificant increase (improvement) in germination % from PM to 1WAPM or 2 WAPM and then decrease at

3WAPM depending upon the time of harvest.

Interaction effect of harvesting time and maturity stage was highly significant in all the grass species.

Germination % was significantly higher at 2WAPM (51 to 69%) than that at preceding and succeeding stages.

Good quality seed could be harvested at this stage but the loss of seed weight/inflorescence at this stage from

1WAPM was found to be from 5 to >10% and significant. Germination % was significantly higher at 2WAPM

(51 to 69%) than that at preceding and succeeding stages.

Nature of Seed Harvest:

Two indigenous rangeland forage species viz. Cenchrus ciliaris L. (UAE) and Coelachyrum piercei L.(UAE)

were investigated along with Chloris gayana L., a popular perennial grass to understand influence of early and

131

late forming tillers on their seed weight (with husk) per se and seed quality in two locations for about a year.

Samples of inflorescences of both early and late forming tillers of three grass species were collected about one

week after physiological maturity (1WAPM) of inflorescences early forming tillers. The results of the investiga-

tions spanning five harvests indicated that early forming tillers possessed all seed related traits like inflorescence

weight (mg), seed weight (with husk)/inflorescence (mg), seed recovery (%) from inflorescence and germination

% significantly superior to late forming tillers in respect of grass species studied. Hence, it was recommended

that while harvesting seed in forage grass species emphasis should be given to harvest more proportion of seed

from early formed tillers than from late formed tillers to get optimum quantity of better quality seed. The results

have significance particularly in producing pre-basic, basic, breeder and foundation seed of grass species.

Characterization:

Characterization of selected indigenous forage species was achieved. Five promising species viz. Cenchrus cil-iaris L (8 accessions), Coelachyrum piercei L (1 accession), Lasiurus hirsutus L. (2 accessions), Panicumturgidum (3 accessions) and Pennisetum divisum (1 accession), were morphologically characterized. The results

of investigations have established distinct descriptors for these species in respect of morphological and pigmen-

tation characters. These descriptors will be used later in identifying similar or different ecotypes that we find in

our collection missions.

Seed Technology Unit:

Seed technology unit was established in collaboration with ICARDA in order to look after seed quality in terms

of germination, viability and vigor. This unit is currently working towards identifying the best methods for seed

production, appropriate time for seed harvesting, threshing and cleaning of grass species to store in small quan-

tities for short, medium and long period.

Future Prospects:

The Seed and Plant Genetic Resources Research Lab. has produced enough quantity of seed of indigenous eco-

type of Cenchrus ciliaris, which forms the main rangeland grass species in all areas of Northern Oman. This will

be used as a material for re-seeding in the rangelands.

Seeding of selected indigenous grass species will be done at selected sites just before or after first showers. As

a beginning, 16 sites, each of about half feddan, of rangelands, in the interior region have been subjected for

seeding with a local Cenchrus species during December 2004.

Benefits:

The degraded rangelands would be gradually expected to improve with all the indigenous grass species that are

used for reseeding as the grass components. As the spread of the grass species would be in arithmetic propor-

tion, the area would be expected to increase in hundreds of hectares that cover vegetation in the rangelands dom-

inated by indigenous grass species.

132

II. SALIENT ACHIEVEMENTS

1. Established forage productivity of existing forage grasses like alfalfa, Rhodes grass and their mixtures under

Oman conditions during 1998-2000.

2. Collection of 68 indigenous pasture plant species in Northern Oman during 1998.

3. Collection of 23 indigenous pasture plant species in Southern of Oman (Dhofar) during 2001.

4. Bulk seed production of indigenous Cenchrus ciliaris and Coelachyrum piercei during 2001-02.

5. Established seed productivity of indigenous Cenchrus ciliaris and Coelachyrum piercei during 2002-2004.

6. Established appropriate seed maturity stage for optimum production of quality seed in indigenous Cenchrusciliaris and Coelachyrum piercei during 2003-04

7. Accomplished morphological characterization of indigenous accessions of Cenchrus ciliaris (8), Coelachyrumpiercei (1), Lasiurus hirsutus (2), Panicum turgidum (3) and Pennisetum divisum (1) during 2001-2005.

8. Established response of indigenous accessions of Cenchrus ciliaris and Coelachyrum piercei to salinity in

comparison with popular Rhodes grass cultivars during 2001-2003.

9. Established 'Ex Situ (Field) Genebank' of indigenous pasture plant species that accommodates a total of 244

species of herb, shrub, tree and grass species.

10.Established 'Ex-Situ (Field) Genebank' of 38 exotic fodder cactus species.

11.Established 'Ex-Situ (Shade house) Genebank' of indigenous medicinal plant species that accommodates a

total of 101 species of rangelands, vegetable, field and fruit crops.

133

SUCCESS STORY �

CAN WE PRODUCE SEED OF INDIGENOUS PASTURE SPECIES IN HOT

HUMID GULF CLIMATE TO RE-VEGETATE OUR DEGRADED RANGE-

LANDS?

AbstractOman is endowed with rich diversity of pasture plant species ranging from different herb, shrub, tree and grass

species in the barren rangelands of all the regions as for the ones having forage value. The plant genetic resources

activities carried-out in relation to collection, conservation and utilization under ICARDA-APRP’s Phase I and

Phase-II for span of about seven years have lead to very productive results that virtually concluded in to a suc-

cess story to answer in affirmative a fundamental question that normally arises as to whether we can produce

seed of indigenous pasture species in hot humid Gulf climate to re-vegetate our degraded rangelands. This arti-

cle has been published by AARINENA in 2005 which is presented here for documentation.

INTRODUCTION

The Sultanate of Oman, situated at the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula, facing the Arabian Sea and Gulf of

Oman, is the third largest country in the Peninsula occupying 309, 500 sq. km. It has a variety of topographical

features consisting of plains, wadis and mountains. The most important area for agriculture is the coastal plain,

which represents 3% of the total area. The mountain ranges occupy about 15% and the remaining area that occu-

pies 82% of the country is mainly sand and gravel desert (MI, 1999). The climate- that essentially consists of

warm, sunny winters and very hot summers- varies from region to region, with the coastal areas more humid than

the Interior and high altitude areas. In the South, Dhofar region has a moderate climate. With the exception of

Dhofar region in the South where monsoon rains occur between May and September, rainfall throughout most

of the country is generally light and irregular (<50 to 100 mm annually). Ground water is the main source for

irrigation and domestic use.

Oman has a large area of rangelands in the Arabian Peninsula. For instance, in Dhofar region itself, it has range-

land area of about 500 thousand hectares. Of late, these rangelands are slowly degraded due to prolonged spell


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� Published in 2005 by AARINENA (Association of Agricultural Research Institutions in the Near Eastand North Africa), ICARDA West Asia Regional Program, P.O. Box 95076, Amman - Jordan.(AARINENA Publication : 2005/1)

134

of drought since early 1990s and rise in ground water salinity all along the coastal regions. Indiscriminate heavy

grazing is yet another factor for reduced availability of good quality forage species in the rangelands. The result

of degradation of rangelands has been endangerment or even loss of indigenous plant species, accompanied by

low rangeland productivity. Rangelands assessment of the Dhofar Jabal areas had identified a great trend in

decreasing productivity and quality (Zaroug, 1983 and 1991; Yassin and Al-Shanfari, 1985; UNDP/ FAO

Project, 1990; MAF, 1990; GRM, 1989 and RFD, 1995, 1996, 1997). Decline in range quality reflected in the

increased abundance of herbs of poorer quality species at the cost of good quality forages that are in the stage of

extinction due to over grazing. Decline in productivity on the other hand, is evidenced by lower forage yields

and increased dependence on concentrates and baled hay to maintain local herds. The loss of vegetation also

results in soil erosion and loss of wildlife habitat and food resources.

The indigenous pasture plants viz. herbs, shrubs, tree and grass species represent valuable genetic and econom-

ic resources that are in danger of being lost. Some species that currently have ecological and biodiversity values

may also have great economic value in the future as a source of adaptation to environmental stresses of heat,

drought and salinity. Oman recognizes the threat to its native pasture plant species. More than 100 germplasm

accessions of indigenous pasture species have been collected from the rangelands under ICARDA- APRP Phase

I during 1998 and Phase II during 2002, which are part of genetic diversity. In order to re-vegetate these degrad-

ed rangelands, seed of indigenous pasture species should be multiplied. Multiplication of seed of prioritized pas-

ture species has been one of the main objectives of 'rangeland component' of ICARDA-APRP Phase-II. In the

present investigation, series of experiments were conducted to streamline seed production procedures in two

indigenous pasture species viz. Cenchrus ciliaris L (UAE Accession No. MAF-120) and Coelachyrum piercei L.(UAE Accession No. MAF-116).

OBJECTIVES

i. Multiplication of seeds of prioritized pasture species from initial very low quantities (mg)

ii. Decide on appropriate inter-row and inter-plant spacing for maximizing seed yield of pasture species

iii.Decide on appropriate irrigation system for seed multiplication of pasture species

iv. Decide on appropriate time of maturity for harvesting maximum high quality seed in pasture species

v. Comprehend the possibility of re-vegetation of degraded rangelands of northern Oman that experience from

50 to 100 mm rainfall.

METHODS USED

In the beginning, bulk seed multiplication of two pasture species was taken up at Sohar Research Station under

drips in an area of 250 sq.m. following appropriate crop husbandry practices under drips during summer 2000

(Plates 1 to 2)

135

Subsequently during 2001-02, this task was extended at Livestock Research Center Rumais in an area of about

350 sq.m. to multiply seed of Cenchrus ciliaris.

Simultaneously several experiments were conducted from 2001 to 2003 under drips and sprinklers in modified

Factorial Randomized Complete Block Design to study the effect of inter-row (50 and 100 cm) and inter-plant

(25, 50 and 100 cm) spacing on seed yield of grass species (Plates 3 to 5).

The effect of maturity stage on seed weight per se and seed quality of grass species was studied in the same

experiment by sampling the inflorescences at physiological maturity (PM) and 1, 2 and 3 weeks after PM and

statistically analyzing seed weight/inflorescence and germination (Plate 6).

Plate 1. General view of the seed multiplica-tion plot of Cenchrus ciliaris L. atAgriculture Research Station, Sohar.

Plate 2. Collection of matured panicles inthe seed multiplication plot ofCenchrus ciliaris L. at AgricultureResearch Station, Sohar.

Plate 3. General view of an experimenton investigation of the effect of inter-rowand inter-plant spacing on seed yield ofindigenous rangeland grass species atLivestock Research Center, Rumais.

Plate 4. Plant stand of indigenousCenchrus ciliaris in 1x1 m spacing after IVth harvest at Livestock Research Center,Rumais.

136

Ultimately, seed of Cenchrus ciliaris L. was used for re-seeding an area of 2000 sq.mt. at unpro-

tected site in one of the wadis immediately after first showers during December 2002 to study the prospect of re-

vegetation and extend the same in as many as 20 sites in the Interior Oman during winter 2004.

RESULTS ACHIEVED

i. We were able to collect to about 13.6 kg seed (with husk) of Cenchrus ciliaris L. (with 34.37% germination)from initial 6 g and 12.6 kg seed of Coelachyrum piercei L. (with 37.62% germination) from initial 8 g fromeight harvests from the plots of 250 sq.m. laid at Sohar Research Station. About 37.50-kg seed of Cenchrusciliaris L. was harvested so far from Livestock Research Center, Rumais. The seed material is under utiliza-tion in our task of re-vegetation and other experiments. Non-synchronous formation of inflorescences andearly shattering of seeds were the problems faced during seed multiplication and harvesting the two pasturespecies (Nadaf et al. 2004).

ii. The grass species produced higher mean seed yield (with husk) under wider rows (100 cm) than under nar-row rows (50 cm) in both the irrigation systems during each harvest. Under drips, Cenchrus ciliaris L. pro-duced significantly higher mean seed yield of 356.20 kg/ha at 100 cm than at 50-cm row spacing (306.42kg/ha). Similarly, Coelachyrum piercei L. also produced higher seed yield of 291.91 kg/ha at 100 cm than at50-cm row-spacing (264.87). Under sprinklers, Cenchrus ciliaris produced higher seed yield of 270.60 kg/haat 100 cm than at 50-cm row spacing (245.36 kg/ha). Similarly, Coelachyrum piercei L. produced higher seedyield of 229.96 kg/ha at 100 cm than at 50-cm row-spacing (197.93 kg/ha). Higher seed yield was alsoobtained under wider inter-plant spacing in both the pasture species. The two grasses showed very low ger-mination % when tested immediately (1-2 weeks) after harvest not only for bulk seed (0 to 1.5%) but also forselected seed (0.8% to 2.8%). Mean germination % of grass species recorded after 12 months of harvests wassignificantly greater (52.62%) than that recorded after 5 months (33.67%) of harvests. Cenchrus ciliarisL.recorded significantly (P<0.01) highest germination % (49.68%) as compared to Coelachyrum piercei L.(38.71%). Selected seed had significantly (P<0.01) higher germination % (53.21%) than bulk seed (33.08%)

Plate 5.Collection of panicles for study-ing the effect of maturity stage on seedweight per se and seed quality in indigenousrangeland grass species.

Plate 6. Panicles of Cenchrus ciliaris L.harvested at physiological maturity stage.

137

(Nadaf et al., 2004(a)).iii.Drips irrigation system was found to be more appropriate for seed multiplication of pasture species as seed

yield levels under sprinklers were lower than those obtained under drips due to shattering of seeds by the fre-quent hits of sprinkler drops (Nadaf et al., 2004(a)).

iv. Seed of indigenous pasture species studied viz. Cenchrus ciliaris L. could be harvested just about a week (Fig1 and 2) after the crop attains physiological maturity to obtain optimum quantity of high quality seed (withgermination % of 51.24 to 58.57). Good quality seed could be harvested in winter than in summer duringwhich deterioration of seed was faster (Nadaf et al., 2004(b)).

Fig.1. Effect of maturity stages (PM (Physiological Maturity), 1, 2 and 3 Weeks After PhysiologicalMaturity (WAPM) on seed weight/inflorescence and germination % of Cenchrus ciliaris atLRC (Rumais).

Fig.2. Effect of maturity stages (PM (Physiological Maturity), 1, 2 and 3 Weeks AfterPhysiological Maturity (WAPM) on seed weight/inflorescence and germination % ofCenchrus ciliaris at JRS (Interior).

t (g

)ht

(g)

tion

on

138

The average regenerated plant density ranged from 2.79/sq.m. to 6.78/sq.m recorded, respectively, three and nine

months after the task of seeding of Cenchrus ciliaris during December 2002 at a site in the wadi Sharadi (7 to

8).

About 47.66% of the plants were found grazed at the time of flowering by local goats and sheep. This site formed

primary source of these plants for further spread of their seed through either wind at maturity or run-off water in

the wadi after subsequent rains. The preliminary inspection after first showers made during second week of

January 2004 have indicated that the seeds have spread over 2 km all along the wadi where germinated seedlings

of Cenchrus ciliaris L. have been noticed. Re-seeding of local Cenchrus ciliaris L. was extended in 20 sites dur-

ing March- April 2004 in the Interior Oman immediately after late winter rains. The encouraging results have

been obtained from these sites.

CONCLUSIONS

Our studies clearly demonstrated that seed of indigenous pasture species like Cenchrus ciliaris L. and

Coelachyrum piercei L. could be produced in the Gulf climate throughout the year to re-vegetate degraded range-

lands of Oman. The seed yield (with husk) of Cenchrus ciliaris L. could be obtained to the extent of 306.42 to

356.20 kg/ha under drips and 245.36 to 270.60 kg/ha under sprinklers during each harvest. These seed yield (with

husk) levels of Cenchrus ciliaris are comparable with the seed yield levels reported elsewhere (10-60 kg/ha

(Skerman and Rivorose, 1989) and 100-200 kg/ha (Chatterjee and Das, 1989)). Our studies have demonstrated

for the first time that seed of indigenous pasture species viz. Cenchrus ciliaris L. could be harvested just within

couple of weeks after the crop attains physiological maturity to obtain optimum quantity of high quality seed

through out the year under the climatic conditions of Oman.

Plate 7. Closer view of germinated plantsof indigenous Cenchrus ciliaris L. in a wadiarea after three months of re-seeding.

Plate 8. Closer view of browsedplants of indigenous Cenchrus ciliaris in awadi area

139

REFERENCES

Chatterjee, B. N. and Das, P. K. (1989). Forage crop production- Principles and Practices. Oxford and IBH

Pub. Co. Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi. 450 p.





MI. (1999). Oman 98/99: The Oman Information Handbook. Ministry of Information. Sultanate of Oman. 266 p.

Nadaf, S. K., Al-Farsi, S. M. and Al-Hinai, S. A. (2004). Seed Production of indigenous rangeland forage

species in Oman. Seed Info. 2004. July 12-14.

Nadaf, S. K., Al-Farsi, S. M.,Al-Hinai, S. A., Al-Adawy, M. H. and Al-Hinai, R. S. (2004a). Effect of inter-

row and inter-plant spacing on seed yield and its related traits of indigenous rangeland and forage grass

species grown under drips and sprinklers. Presented in ICARDA-APRP Annual Meeting held in Muscat.

February 2004. Annual Report 2003/2004. pp. 104-108.

Nadaf, S. K., Al-Farsi, S. M.,Al-Hinai, S. A., Al-Adawy, M. H. and Al-Hinai, R. S. (2004b). Effect of matu-

rity stage on seed weight per se and seed quality in indigenous rangeland and forage grass species. Presented

in ICARDA-APRP Annual Meeting held in Muscat. February 2004. Annual Report 2003/2004. pp. 109-120.







Skerman, P.J. and Riveros, F. 1989. Tropical grasses. FAO Plant Production and Protection Series, no.23. pp.

266-274 and 283-288.

UNDP/FAO. (1990). Project finding and Recommendations. UNDP Project OMA/87/O13- Establishment of

range management program for the Southern Region. UNDP, Salalah.

Yassin, T. G. and Al-Shamfari, S. A. (1985). Rangelands in Oman: management, problems and prospects. First

Int. Range Management Conference in the Arabian Gulf, Kuwait.



Development. FAO.

140

ICBA ACTIVITIES - 2005

EVALUATION OF ELITE BARLEY (Hordeum vulgare L.), FODDER BEET

(Brassica campestris L.) AND CANOLA (Brassica nigra L.) GENOTYPES FOR

GREEN FODDER AND DRY MATTER PRODUCTIVITY UNDER SALINE

WATER CONDITIONS

AbstractSalinity tolerant lines of barley, developed by ICBA, and new varities of fodder beet and canola form excellent

screening material under saline conditions ranging from 5 to 15 dS/m. International Center for Biosaline

Agriculture (ICBA), Dubai has initiated collaborative research since winter, 2004-05 with Ministry of

Agriculture & Fisheries, Oman towards identifying high productive lines for green fodder or dry biomass or

grain yield under two sites having different soil and irrigation water salinity. The site at Murthada farm has sandy

soil with EC and pH of 6.90 dS/m and 7.50 at 0-15 cm depth and of 3.00 dS/m and 7.50 at 15-30 cm depth,

respectively recorded at the beginning of the experiments while the same soil had EC and pH of 3.08 dS/m and

7.90 at 0-15 cm depth and of 2.30 dS/m and 8.00 at 15-30 cm depth, respectively recorded after the harvest of

the experiments. The site at Biosaline Agriculture Research Farm (BARF) has sandy soil with EC and pH of

15.90 dS/m and 7.50 at 0-15 cm depth and of 17.20 dS/m and 7.50 at 15-30 cm depth, respectively recorded at

the beginning of the experiments while the same soil had EC and pH of 8.96 dS/m and 7.50 at 0-15 cm depth

and of 7.82 dS/m and 7.70 at 15-30 cm depth, respectively recorded a week before harvest of the experiments.

In case of barley, performance of genotype namely 91/2A was consistently stable and superior in yielding mean

green and dry matter yields of 23.03 t/ha and 5.20 t/ha over two diverse saline water conditions where as in case

of fodder beet, genotypes namely Turbo and Abondo were consistently stable and superior in yielding mean

green matter yields of 107.37 t/ha and 104.00 t/ha and dry matter tields of 14.41 t/ha and 13.17 t/ha respective-

ly, over two diverse saline water conditions. Canola genotypes, however, showed yielding ability of green mat-

ter (20.50 to 30.60 t/ha) as compared to general mean performance (mean green matter yield – 23.34 t/ha) of all

the varieties under the condition of high irrigation water salinity.


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) Ò©°ûdG πNóe ô¡XCG . Ú©bƒŸG ÓμH §«≤æàdÉH …ôdG ΩÉ¶f Ωóîà°SG . á«ë∏ŸG äÉJÉÑædG áYQõÃ ’ƒfÉμdG øe πNGóe 4 ¤EG áaÉ°VE’ÉH91/2A(

∞∏©dG ôéæH ÓNóe ¥ƒØJ Éª«a áØL IOÉe QÉàμg/øW 5^20 h ô°†NCG ∞∏Y QÉàμg/øW23^03 ≈£YCG å«M Ú©bƒª∏d êÉàf’G §°Sƒàe ‘ ÉbƒØJ

)Turbo) h (Abondo14^41 h ô°†NBG ∞∏Y QÉàμg/øW 104^00 h QÉàμg/øW 107^37 êÉàf’G ¿Éc å«M Ú©bƒª∏d êÉàf’G §°Sƒàe ‘ (

πNóe) QÉàμg/øW20^50 øe ’ƒfÉμdG êÉàfEG ìhGôJ , ‹GƒàdG »∏Y áaÉL IOÉe QÉàμg/øW13^17 h QÉàμg/øWHobson30^60 ¤EG (

πNóe) QÉàμg/øWInterval .¢ù«eôdÉH á«ë∏ŸG äÉJÉÑædG áYQõÃ ∂dPh QÉàμg/øW 3^34 §°SƒàÃh ô°†NCG ∞∏Y (

141

INTRODUCTION

The Sultanate of Oman, the third largest country in the Arabian Peninsula, has about 72558.80 ha is currently

under cultivation of which fruits occupy as high as 57.82%, followed by perennial fodder crops (24.44%), veg-

etables (9.35%) and annual grain crops (8.39%) (MAF, 2004). Sultanate is categorized as arid country with low

rainfall and high evapo-transpiration (ET). Rainfall varies from less than 50 mm in central Oman to more than

300 mm in the mountains. Ground water is the main source of water for both domestic and agriculture use. Until

the mid-seventies water demand and supply were relatively well balanced. Subsequently high water demand has

led to over pumping and prolonged lack of rains has reduced the extent of recharge. These situations have been

progressively deteriorating the quality of both water and soil towards salinity because of seawater intrusion. The

affected areas are mostly the farms near the coast, which have abundant but saline water.

In the Sultanate barley (six-row type) is sown frequently with alfalfa. Traditionally, along the coast it is not

grown for grain but for fodder (90 ha). In the Interior, Sharqiya and the Western Hajar (50 ha), it is grown for

grains utilized mostly as a component of poultry feed. In Musandam, some land races (eg Cv.Doraqui) on a lim-

ited scale for human consumption. In these years, the countries in the Gulf region are laying emphasis on barley

cultivation because of huge market demands as animal feed and as green fodder. In Oman, barley comes to head-

ing in January-February in Batinah and mid-March in the interior areas. It is cut green for fodder along with the

alfalfa but it is not re-sown into the perennial stands of alfalfa. In the years to come, the Ministry has plans to

attain self-sufficiency in the barley production for feed concentrates. The Ministry distributes the seeds of intro-

duced varieties to farmers. In Oman, exotic fodder beet varieties were investigated between 1994 and 1997 for

their fodder production in winter under saline conditions up to 5 dS/m and it was found that the varieties tested

viz. Peramono, Petra and Anissa were able to produce green fodder yield between 94.62 to 144.22 t/ha in a span

of about 70-75 days (Nadaf et.al, 1998 and 2000). Canola, however, has not been tried earlier in Oman for green

fodder yield. There is a good scope for extending cultivation of winter fodder crops in salinity affected and water

resources limiting areas of coastal region by introducing saline tolerant and water stress tolerant varieties (Akhtar

and Nadaf, 2001). Under high saline conditions, existing cultivars/crops are unable to produce required biomass

in salinity affected lands to meet the demands of summer fodder. Salinity tolerant lines of barley, available at

ICBA, and new varities of fodder beet and canola form excellent screening material under saline conditions rang-

ing from 5 to 15 dS/m. International Center on Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA), Dubai has initiated collaborative

research since winter, 2004-05 with Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries, Oman towards identifying high produc-

tive lines for green fodder or dry biomass or grain yield under saline conditions.


As a part of collaborative research activity with ICBA, evaluation trials of barley and fodder beet involving

respectively 24 and 7 elite genotypes were laid separately under drips in RCBD on 30.11.2005 on sites in a

farmer’s field (Murthada Farm) and Biosaline Agriculture Research Farm (BARF) at Rumais. Evaluation trial of

four canola varieties was laid in RCBD with four replications only at a site in BARF. Barley trial at Murthda

farm had four replications while that at BARF had three replications. However, fodder beet trials in both the loca-

tions had four replications.

142

The site at Murthada farm has sandy soil with EC and pH of 6.90 dS/m and 7.50 at 0-15 cm depth and of 3.00

dS/m and 7.50 at 15-30 cm depth, respectively recorded at the beginning of the experiments while the same soil

had EC and pH of 3.08 dS/m and 7.90 at 0-15 cm depth and of 2.30 dS/m and 8.00 at 15-30 cm depth, respec-

tively recorded after the harvest of the experiments. The site at BARF has sandy soil with EC and pH of 15.90

dS/m and 7.50 at 0-15 cm depth and of 17.20 dS/m and 7.50 at 15-30 cm depth, respectively recorded at the

beginning of the experiments while the same soil had EC and pH of 8.96 dS/m and 7.50 at 0-15 cm depth and

of 7.82 dS/m and 7.70 at 15-30 cm depth, respectively recorded a week before harvest of the experiments.

These farms have abundant quantity of irrigation water that was saline to the extent of about from 8.5 to 10.5

dS/m at Murthada farm and from 14.78 to 16.5 dS/m at BARF, respectively recorded just before commencement

and after the conclusion of trials.

In case of barley, 2-3 seeds of each genotype were planted sparsely by maintaining minimum of 10 cm plant to

plant distance in four 4-m drip rows that were 25 cm apart while in case of fodder beet and canola, 2-3 seeds of

each genotype were planted sparsely at plant to plant distance of 25 cm in four 4-m drip rows that were 50 cm

apart.

All the crop husbandry practices were followed as per national recommendations. At all the sites of the experi-

ments, FYM was incorporated at the rate of 12.5 t/ha. In case of barley, the crop was fertilized with 100 kg N/ha,

90 kg P2O5/ha and 60 kg K2O/ha in the form of urea (200 kg/ha), triple super phosphate (180 kg/ha) and potas-

sium sulphate (120 kg/ha). 1/2 of nitrogen and all of phosphate and potash were applied before sowing. The rest

of nitrogen was applied in two further splits, 1/2 after two weeks of sowing (after germination) and the test 1/2

after one month of planting. In case of fodder beet and canola, crops were fertilized with 80 kg N/ha, 60 kg

P2O5/ha and 60 kg K2O/ha in the form of urea (160 kg/ha), triple super phosphate (120 kg/ha) and potassium sul-

phate (120 kg/ha). 1/2 of nitrogen and all of phosphate and potash were applied before sowing. The rest of nitro-

gen was applied after one month of planting. The fertilizers were applied manually at 8-10 cm distance from the

plants.

The crops were irrigated through drips very gently till germination and later at two-day intervals. The crops were

excessively irrigated (approximately 10%) in terms of time after the soil attained to a stage of field capacity.

In case of barley, all the genotyes attained 25-30% flowering from 55 to 60 days days after planting. All the

genotypes were harvested for green forage between 65 and 70 days after planting in both the locations. In case

of fodder beet and canola, the varities were harvested for green fodder between 70 and 75 days after planting.

In barley, the observations on plant height (cm), number of tillers/sq.m and green forage weight/sq.m. were

recorded at harvest. In fodder beet, six agronomic-ancillary characters viz. leaf-top length (cm), tuber length

(cm), tuber width (cm), no. of leaves/plant, leaf-top weight (g/plant) and tuber weight (g/plant) were recorded a

week before harvest while at harvest two yield characters viz. leaf top green fodder weight (kg/sq.m) and fresh

143

tuber weight (kg/sq.m) were recorded. In canola, plant height (leaf top lenth), no. of leaves/ plant, green leaf top

weight/plant (g) and leaf top green fodder weight (kg/sq.m) were recorded. Green plant samples of all replica-

tions were taken to the laboratory for estimating dry matter percent for each genotype (AOAC, 1984). Dry mat-

ter weight was computed for each entry based on its dry matter %. In case of fodder beet, the data on leaf top

weight/ sq.m and tuber weight/sq.m were converted to total green and dry matter weights/ha. The data were sub-

jected to statistical analyses according to the methods of Gomez and Gomez (1984) using MSTAT-C.


Barley:

Table 1 presents means of four yield characters viz. plant height (cm), number of tillers/sq.m, green forage yield/

ha and dry matter yield/ ha, of barley genotypes recorded at harvest (50% flowering stage) along with statistical

parameters in the two locations (Murthada Farm and BARF). Barley genotypes were more diverse and signifi-

cantly different with respect to all growth and yield attributes (P<0.05). High CVs were found for all the char-

acters studied because of differential variation existed in soil salinity of experimental area in both the locations.

At Murthada Farm, under saline conditions of higher irrigation water EC to the extent ranging from 8.5 to 10.5

dS/m, five genotypes were identified to yield higher green matter (24.80 to 36.67 t/ha) yield than mean perform-

ance of all the varieties (mean green matter yield 20.11 t/ha) (Table 1). Of these, 21/2 D was found to produce

highest green forage yield of 36.67 t/ha followed by 91/2A (34.80 t/ha), 100/1 B (30.40 t/ha), 113/1 B (25.07

t/ha) and 60/1 A (24.80 t/ha). In respect of dry matter yield, 91/2 A was highest yielder with 8.11 t/ha, followed

by 21/2 D (6.91 t/ha), 58/1 A (5.38 t/ha), 100/1 B (4.89 t/ha) and 113/1 B (4.72 t/ha) as compared to general

mean yield of genotypes (6.43 t/ha).

At BARF, under saline conditions of higher irrigation water EC to the extent ranging from 14.78 to 16.5 dS/m,

five genotypes were identified to yield higher green matter (9.00 to 11.53 t/ha) yield than mean performance of

all the varieties (mean green matter yield 6.43 t/ha) (Table 1). Of these, 63/2 A was found to produce highest

green forage yield of 11.53 t/ha followed by 82/2 A (11.33 t/ha), 91/2 A (11.27 t/ha), 100/2 B (10.13 t/ha) and

AD187 (9.00 t/ha). In respect of dry matter yield, 63/2 A was highest yielder with 2.93 t/ha, followed by 82/2 A

(2.93 t/ha), 100/2 B (2.86 t/ha), 91/2 A (2.29 t/ha) and 91/1 A (2.00 t/ha) as compared to general mean yield of

genotypes (1.58 t/ha).

Out of these highest yielders, performance of genotype namely 91/2 A was consistently stable and superior in

both the environments yielding mean green and dry matter yields of 23.03 t/ha and 5.20 t/ha over two diverse

saline water conditions. Last year, among the barly genotypes studied, green fodder yield potential to the extent

of about 18 t/ha was realised at a salinity site with irrigation water having salinity ranging from 9.58 to 14.2 dS/m

during the period of crop growth. All the genotypes of the present investigations will have to be tested for anoth-

er year at the same location to confiirm the results. Later, five top yielding genotypes can be subjected further to

(1) investigate their response to different levels of salinity under shade house conditions and (2) evaluate in larg-

er plots in farmers' field.

144

Fodder beet:

Table 2 presents means of six agronomic- characters viz. leaf-top length (cm), tuber length (cm), tuber width

(cm), no. of leaves/plant, leaf-top weight (g/plant) and tuber weight (g/plant) and Table 3 presents means of six

yield characters viz. leaf top green fodder yield (t/ha), fresh tuber yield (t/ha), leaf top dry matter yield (t/ha),

tuber dry matter yield (t/ha), total green matter yield (t/ha) and total dry matter yield (t/ha) of seven fodder beet

genotypes recorded at harvest (when old leaves commence drying indicating complete development of tubers)

along with statistical parameters in the two locations (Murthada Farm and BARF). Fodder beet genotypes were

more diverse and significantly different with respect to all growth and yield attributes (P<0.05) except no. of

leaves (P>0.05). High CVs were found for all the characters studied because of differential variation existed in

soil salinity of experimental area in both the locations.

At Murthada Farm, under saline conditions of higher irrigation water EC to the extent ranging from 8.5 to 10.5

dS/m, three genotypes were identified to yield higher total green matter (125.67 to 127.80 t/ha) yield than mean

performance of all the varieties (mean green matter yield 110.56 t/ha) (Table 3). Of these, Abondo was found to

produce highest green matter yield of 127.80 t/ha followed by Turbo (125.87 t/ha) and Dana (125.67 t/ha). In

respect of total dry matter yield, Turbo was highest yielder with 17.36 t/ha, followed by Abondo(17.22 t/ha) and

Blizzard (16.25 t/ha) as compared to general mean yield of genotypes (13.71 t/ha). In respect of fresh (green mat-

ter) yields, Turbo was highest yielder for leaf top fodder with 70.67 t/ha, followed by Dana (67.40 t/ha) and

Abondo (63.13 t/ha) as compared to general mean yield of genotypes (55.47 t/ha) while for tuber yield Blizzard

was highest yielder with 69.20 t/ha, followed by Abondo (64.67 t/ha) and Dana (58.27 t/ha) as compared to gen-

eral mean yield of genotypes (55.10 t/ha). In respect of dry matter yields, Turbo was highest yielder for leaf top

fodder with 8.83 t/ha, followed by Abondo (7.03 t/ha) and Dana (5.68 t/ha) as compared to general mean yield

of genotypes (5.60 t/ha) while for tuber yield Blizzard was highest yielder with 11.81 t/ha, followed by Abondo

(10.19 t/ha) and Turbo (8.53 t/ha) as compared to general mean yield of genotypes (8.10 t/ha).

At BARF, under saline conditions of higher irrigation water EC to the extent ranging from 14.78 to 16.5 dS/m,

three genotypes were identified to yield higher total green matter (80.20 to 88.87 t/ha ) yield than mean perform-

ance of all the varieties (mean green matter yield 71.29 t/ha) (Table 3). Of these, Turbo was found to produce

highest green matter yield of 88.87 t/ha followed by Adagio (80.60 t/ha) and Abondo (80.20 t/ha). In respect of

total dry matter yield, Turbo was highest yielder with 11.47 t/ha, followed by Blizzard (10.06 t/ha) and Abondo

(9.13 t/ha) as compared to general mean yield of genotypes (8.75 t/ha). In respect of fresh (green matter) yields,

Turbo was highest yielder for leaf top fodder with 47.40 t/ha, followed by Abondo (44.20 t/ha) and Adagio

(43.93 t/ha) as compared to general mean yield of genotypes (36.97 t/ha) while for tuber yield Turbo was high-

est yielder with 41.47 t/ha, followed by Blizzard (37.60 t/ha) and Adagio (36.67 t/ha) as compared to general

mean yield of genotypes (34.31 t/ha). In respect of dry matter yields, Turbo was highest yielder for leaf top fod-

der with 6.93 t/ha, followed by Abondo (4.61 t/ha) and Adagio (4.15 t/ha) as compared to general mean yield of

genotypes (3.99 t/ha) while for tuber yield Blizzard was highest yielder with 7.41 t/ha, followed by Maestro (5.28

t/ha) and Turbo (4.54 t/ha) as compared to general mean yield of genotypes (4.76 t/ha).

145

Out of these highest yielders, performance of genotypes namely Turbo and Abondo was consistently stable and

superior in both the environments yielding mean green matter yields of 107.37 t/ha and 104.00 t/ha and dry mat-

ter tields of 14.41 t/ha and 13.17 t/ha respectively, over two diverse saline water conditions. In our previous

investigations during 1994-95 and 1995-96, fodder beets were found to yield green matter yields ranging from

94.62 t/ha (produced by variety, Petra) to 142.22 t/ha (produced by variety, Peramono) in sandy soil under saline

water conditions of about 5 dS/m (Nadaf et al., 1998 and 2000). All the genotypes of the present investigations

will have to be tested for another year at the same location to confiirm the results. Later, three top yielding geno-

types can be subjected further to (1) investigate their response to different levels of salinity under shade house

conditions and (2) evaluate in larger plots in farmers' field.

Canola:

Table 4 presents means of five yield characters viz. plant height (Leaf top length) (cm), number of leaves/plant,

green leaf top weight/plant, green matter yield/ha and dry matter yield/ha, of four canola genotypes recorded at

harvest (flowering initiation) along with statistical parameters at BARF. Canola genotypes were not significant-

ly different with respect to all growth and yield attributes (P>0.05). High CVs were found for all the characters

studied because of differential variation existed in soil salinity of experimental area in both the locations.

146

Tab

le 1

.M

ean

s of

fou

r agro

nom

ic c

hara

cter

s in

sali

ne

tole

ran

t b

arl

ey a

cces

sion

s of

ICB

A i

n t

wo l

oca

tion

s (M

urt

had

a F

arm

an

d

Bio

sali

ne

Agri

cult

ure

Res

earc

h F

arm

(B

AR

F).

Statistical ParametersLocations ** (5.96) ** (5.86) ** (0.76) ** (0.15)Genotypes * (10.53) NS NS NSLocations x Genotypes NS NS NS NSCV % 14.03 34.22 57.02 59.95

58/1

A

59/3

A

60/1

A

61/1

A

63/2

A

76/2

A

82/2

A

83/1

A

86/2

A

91/1

A

91/2

A

111/

4 A

116/

2 A

50/3

B

51/1

B

100/

1 B

100/

2 B

113/

1 B

6/1

D

21/2

D

57/2

D

ICA

RD

A 8

ICA

RD

A 2

0

AD

187

Mea

n

Plan

t Hei

ght (

cm)

No.

of

Till

ers

Gre

en F

odde

r Y

ield

(t/h

a)D

ry M

atte

r Y

ield

(t/h

a)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

74.3

3

81.3

3

82.0

0

74.3

3

80.0

0

81.6

7

74.6

7

88.3

3

77.6

7

79.6

7

89.3

3

86.6

7

85.6

7

83.6

7

64.6

7

75.6

7

82.6

7

68.0

0

80.0

0

88.0

0

81.6

7

86.0

0

72.3

3

68.0

0

79.4

3

55.3

3

54.3

3

57.3

3

52.6

7

49.0

0

56.0

0

48.3

3

60.6

7

58.0

0

51.0

0

49.0

0

56.6

7

56.6

7

52.6

7

55.0

0

45.0

0

59.6

7

45.0

0

49.6

7

62.0

0

56.6

7

50.0

0

45.3

3

52.6

7

53.2

8

64.8

3

67.8

3

69.6

7

63.5

0

64.5

0

68.8

3

61.5

0

74.5

0

67.8

3

65.3

3

69.1

7

71.6

7

71.1

7

68.1

7

59.8

3

60.3

3

71.1

7

56.5

0

64.8

3

75.0

0

69.1

7

68.0

0

58.8

3

60.3

3

66.3

5

72.3

3

63.3

3

72.0

0

54.6

7

67.3

3

67.3

3

66.0

0

67.0

0

49.6

7

59.3

3

81.0

0

57.3

3

53.0

0

42.3

3

69.6

7

81.6

7

52.6

7

70.0

0

66.3

3

79.6

7

31.3

3

41.6

7

59.3

3

51.6

7

61.5

3

56.6

7

88.0

0

86.0

0

55.0

0

53.3

3

82.3

3

40.6

7

113.

67

90.0

0

72.6

7

48.0

0

109.

67

70.3

3

49.0

0

98.0

0

78.3

3

70.6

7

65.6

7

93.6

7

95.3

3

99.6

7

75.0

0

62.0

0

98.6

7

77.1

8

64.5

0

75.6

7

79.0

0

54.8

3

60.3

3

74.8

3

53.3

3

90.3

3

69.8

3

66.0

0

64.5

0

83.5

0

61.6

7

45.6

7

83.8

3

80.0

0

61.6

7

67.8

3

80.0

0

87.5

0

65.5

0

58.3

3

60.6

7

75.1

7

69.3

5

21.2

0

19.7

3

24.8

0

16.0

0

19.3

3

22.5

3

19.6

0

21.6

0

18.8

0

22.1

3

34.8

0

19.7

3

19.8

7

16.4

0

14.9

3

30.4

0

16.1

3

25.0

7

22.1

3

36.6

7

8.00

12.6

7

12.1

3

7.87

20.1

1

5.40

5.07

4.53

7.07

11.5

3

3.40

11.3

3

6.50

3.87

6.67

11.2

7

4.93

3.60

7.40

3.80

6.07

10.1

3

3.80

7.47

4.93

3.73

6.70

6.07

9.00

6.43

13.3

0

12.4

0

14.6

7

11.5

3

15.4

3

12.9

7

15.4

7

14.0

5

11.3

3

14.4

0

23.0

3

12.3

3

11.7

3

11.9

0

9.37

18.2

3

13.1

3

14.4

3

14.8

0

20.8

0

5.87

9.68

9.10

8.43

13.2

7

5.38

4.16

4.47

3.01

3.29

3.88

3.54

3.95

3.85

3.94

8.11

3.95

3.98

3.49

3.26

4.89

2.89

4.72

4.14

6.91

1.97

2.81

2.54

1.57

3.95

1.39

1.19

0.82

1.76

2.93

0.85

2.93

1.63

0.95

2.00

2.29

0.97

0.93

1.47

1.01

1.84

2.86

0.91

1.91

1.25

0.77

1.79

1.53

1.83

1.58

3.39

2.68

2.64

2.39

3.11

2.37

3.24

2.79

2.40

2.97

5.20

2.46

2.46

2.48

2.14

3.37

2.87

2.82

3.03

4.08

1.37

2.30

2.04

1.70

2.76

Acc

essi

ons

SI

NO

.

Mur

thad

a

AR

CM

urth

ada

AR

CM

urth

ada

AR

C

M

urth

ada

AR

CM

ean

Mea

nM

ean

Mea

nF

arm

Far

m-1

Far

m

Far

m-1

Far

m

F

arm

-1F

arm

Far

m-1

Tab

le 2

. M

ean

s of

six a

gro

nom

ic-a

nci

llary

ch

ara

cter

s in

sali

ne

tole

ran

t fo

dd

er b

eet

acc

essi

on

s of

ICB

A i

n t

wo l

oca

tion

s (M

urt

had

a F

arm

an

d

Bio

sali

ne

Agri

cult

ure

Res

earc

h F

arm

(B

AR

F)

147

Bla

ze

Bliz

zard

Mae

stro

Ada

gio

Tur

bo

Abo

ndo

Dan

a

Mea

n

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

41.2

5

43.0

0

45.0

0

49.5

0

45.0

0

42.2

5

44.5

0

44.3

6

32.2

5

31.5

0

31.2

5

32.0

0

41.2

5

35.7

5

35.7

5

34.2

5

36.7

5

37.2

5

38.1

3

40.7

5

43.1

3

39.0

0

40.1

3

39.3

0

23.7

5

25.5

0

25.5

0

21.7

5

24.7

5

21.3

8

23.5

0

23.7

3

19.5

0

17.7

5

17.7

5

18.2

5

23.5

0

19.2

5

21.7

5

19.6

8

21.6

3

21.6

3

21.6

3

20.0

0

24.1

3

20.3

1

22.6

3

21.7

1

7.13

7.13

9.13

7.75

7.63

7.50

7.70

7.71

7.50

6.63

4.50

5.88

7.25

5.38

7.25

6.34

7.31

6.88

6.81

6.81

7.44

6.44

7.48

7.02

23.5

0

19.5

0

23.2

5

22.7

5

23.0

0

22.7

5

21.5

0

22.3

2

16.0

6

16.0

5

13.2

9

17.0

5

26.0

6

14.8

0

18.3

2

17.3

7

19.7

8

17.7

8

18.2

7

19.9

0

24.5

3

18.7

8

19.9

1

19.8

5

415.

00

402.

50

620.

00

572.

50

505.

00

452.

50

597.

50

509.

29

415.

00

255.

00

155.

00

292.

50

595.

00

362.

50

465.

00

362.

86

415.

00

328.

75

387.

50

432.

50

550.

00

407.

50

531.

25

436.

07

395.

00

397.

50

577.

50

482.

50

497.

50

455.

00

490.

00

470.

71

440.

00

222.

50

122.

50

232.

50

490.

00

235.

00

430.

00

310.

36

417.

50

310.

00

350.

00

357.

50

493.

75

345.

00

460.

00

390.

54

Red

dish

Whi

te

Whi

te

Whi

te

Lig

ht o

rang

e

Red

dish

Red

dish

Nam

e of

Gen

otyp

e

Lea

f ro

p le

ngth

(c

m)

Tub

er l

engt

h (c

m)

Tub

er w

idth

(c

m)

No.

of

leav

es

Lea

f to

p w

eigh

t(g

/pla

nt)

Tub

er w

eigh

t(g

/pla

nt)

Tub

erC

olou

rM

urth

ada

Far

m

AR

C

Far

m-1

Mea

nM

urth

ada

Far

m

AR

C

Far

m-1

Mea

nM

urth

ada

Far

m

AR

C

Far

m-1

Mea

nM

urth

ada

Far

m

AR

C

Far

m-1

Mea

nM

urth

ada

Far

m

AR

C

Far

m-1

Mea

nM

urth

ada

Far

m

AR

C

Far

m-1

Mea

n

SI

NO

.

Stat

isti

cal P

aram

eter

sLo

cati

ons

*(2.

53)

Gen

otyp

esN

sLo

cati

ons

x G

enot

ypes

Ns

CV

%13

.08

*(2.

27)

NS

NS

19.1

5

*(0

.66

)N

SN

S22

.46

Ns

Ns

NS

27.0

7

* (9

3.71

)N

sN

S 47

.07

*(9

7.9

7)N

sN

s59

.73

148

Bla

ze

Bliz

zard

Mae

stro

Ada

gio

Tur

bo

Abo

ndo

Dan

a

Mea

n

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

46.9

3

42.6

0

43.7

3

53.8

0

70.6

7

63.1

3

67.4

0

55.4

7

29.0

0

28.9

3

30.5

3

43.9

3

47.4

0

44.2

0

34.8

0

36.9

7

37.9

7

35.7

7

37.1

3

48.8

7

59.0

3

53.6

7

51.1

0

46.2

2

44.8

0

69.2

0

40.6

7

52.8

7

55.2

0

64.6

7

58.2

7

55.1

0

25.7

3

37.6

0

34.4

0

36.6

7

41.4

7

36.0

0

28.3

3

34.3

1

35.2

7

53.4

0

37.5

3

44.7

7

48.3

3

50.3

3

43.3

0

44.7

0

4.32

4.44

3.68

5.24

8.83

7.03

5.68

5.60

2.67

2.65

3.48

4.15

6.93

4.61

3.43

3.99

3.49

3.54

3.58

4.70

7.88

5.82

4.55

4.80

6.04

11.8

1

6.55

5.87

8.53

10.1

9

7.74

8.10

3.88

7.41

5.28

4.31

4.54

4.52

3.38

4.76

4.96

9.61

5.91

5.09

6.53

7.36

5.56

6.43

91.7

3

111.

80

84.4

0

106.

67

125.

87

127.

80

125.

67

110.

56

54.7

3

66.5

3

64.9

3

80.6

0

88.8

7

80.2

0

63.1

3

71.2

9

73.2

3

89.1

7

74.6

7

93.6

3

107.

37

104.

00

94.4

0

90.9

2

10.3

5

16.2

5

10.2

3

11.1

1

17.3

6

17.2

2

13.4

2

13.7

1

6.55

10.0

6

8.76

8.46

11.4

7

9.13

6.81

8.75

8.45

13.1

5

9.50

9.78

14.4

1

13.1

7

10.1

2

11.2

3

Nam

e of

Gen

otyp

e

Lea

f T

op G

reen

Fod

der

Yie

ld

(t/h

a)

Fre

sh T

uber

Yie

ld

(t/h

a)L

eaf

top

Dry

Mat

ter

Yie

ld(t

/ha)

Tub

er D

ry M

atte

r Y

ield

(t/h

a)T

otal

Gre

en M

atte

r Y

ield

(t/h

a)T

otal

Dry

Mat

ter

Yie

ld(t

/ha)

Mur

thad

a

Far

m

AR

C

Far

m-1

Mea

nM

urth

ada

Far

m

AR

C

Far

m-1

Mea

nM

urth

ada

Far

m

AR

C

Far

m-1

Mea

nM

urth

ada

Far

m

AR

C

Far

m-1

Mea

nM

urth

ada

Far

m

AR

C

Far

m-1

Mea

nM

urth

ada

Far

m

AR

C

Far

m-1

Mea

n

SI

NO

.

Stat

isti

cal P

aram

eter

sLo

cati

ons

**(5

.09

)G

enot

ypes

* (

11.7

2)Lo

cati

ons

x G

enot

ypes

Ns

CV

%25

.89

**(2

.21)

NS

NS

31.4

8

**(1

.48)

NS

NS

35.7

2

**(1

.33)

* (

2.77

)N

S43

.52

**(6

.17)

* (

23.9

1)N

S26

.85

**(1

.41)

* (6

.65)

NS

57.2

4

Tab

le 3

. M

ean

s of

six y

ield

ch

ara

cter

s in

sali

ne

tole

ran

t fo

dd

er b

eet

acc

essi

on

s of

ICB

A in

tw

o l

oca

tion

s (M

urt

had

a F

arm

an

d B

iosa

lin

e

Agri

cult

ure

Res

earc

h F

arm

(B

AR

F)

Tab

le 4

.M

ean

s of

fiv

e yie

ld c

hara

cter

s in

sali

ne

tole

ran

t ca

nola

acc

essi

on

s of

ICB

A a

t B

iosa

lin

e A

gri

cult

ure

Res

earc

h F

arm

(BA

RF

)(R

um

ais

).

Sta

tist

ical

Para

met

ers

F-t

est

NS

NS

NS

NS

NS

CV

(%

)29

.21

35.4

951

.37

40.0

134

.07

Sl.

No.

Nam

e of

gen

oty

pe

Pla

nt

Hei

gh

t (L

eaf

Top

Len

gth

) (c

m)

No. of

leaves

/pla

nt

Gre

en L

eaf

Top

Wei

gh

t/p

lan

t (g

)

Gre

en M

att

er

Yie

ld (

t/h

a)

Dry

Matt

er

Yie

ld (

t/h

a)

1

Inte

rval

27.3

827.7

5235.0

030.6

03.5

2

2H

ob

son

27.8

816.2

5150.0

020.5

02.2

6

3H

yola

43

23.8

823.2

5160.0

021.4

32.0

6

4H

yola

60

23.1

330.7

5162.5

020.8

33.2

7

Mea

n25.5

624.5

0176.8

823.3

42.7

8

149

Under saline conditions of higher irrigation water EC to the extent ranging from 14.78 to 16.5 dS/m at ARC

Farm-1, canola genotypes showed yielding ability of green matter (20.50 to 30.60 t/ha) as compared to general

mean performance (mean green matter yield – 23.34 t/ha) of all the varieties (Table 4). Of these, variety, inter-

val was found to produce numerically highest green matter yield of 30.60 t/ha followed by Hyola 43 (21.43 t/ha),

Hyola 60 (20.83 t/ha) and Hobson (20.50 t/ha). In respect of dry matter yield Interval was highest yielder with

3.52 t/ha, followed by Hyola 60 (3.27 t/ha), Hobson (2.26 t/ha) and Hyola 43 (2.06 t/ha) as compared to gener-

al mean yield of genotypes (2.78 t/ha). This is the first time canola genotypes have been investigated for green

fodder in Oman. Hence, these genotypes of the present investigations will have to be tested for another year at

the same location to confiirm the results. Later, two top yielding genotypes can be subjected further to (1) inves-

tigate their response to different levels of salinity under shade house conditions and (2) evaluate in larger plots

in farmers' field.

REFERENCES

Akthar, M. and Nadaf, S. K. (2001). Scientific production of field crops in Oman. Ministry of Agriculture &

Fisheries. Sultanate of Oman. 88 p.

AOAC. 1984. Official methods of analysis. 14th ed. Association of Official Analytical Chemists, Washington,

D.C. USA.

Gomez, K. A. and Gomez, A. A. (1984). Statistical Procedures for Agricultural Research. Second Ed. The

International Rice Research Institute, Philippines.

MAF. (2004) . Agriculture Statistics, 2003. Department of Agriculture Statistics. Ministry of Agriculture &


Nadaf, S. K., Al-Khamisi, S. A., El-Hag, M. G., Al-Lawati, Ali H. and Akhtar, M. (2000). Productivity of

fodder beet (Beta vulgaris spp. vulgaris) under sprinklers in salinity affected arid lands of Oman. Emirates J.

Agric. Sci. 12: 20-32.

Nadaf, S. K., Ibrahim, Y. M., Akthar, M., El-Haj, M.G. and Al-Lawati, A. H. (1998). Performance of fod-

der beet in Oman. Annals of Arid Zone (India). 37: 377-382.

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