Genetic and Environmental Variability in Sericea Lespedeza.

Sericea lespedeza [Lespedeza cuneata (Dumont de Courset) G. Don] is an introduced warm season perennial legume possessing deep root system, small and hard seeds with epigeal emergence and several desirable properties for conservation, grazing, and hay purposes. Forage yield in sericea lespedeza is determined by environmental and genotypic effects. Visual observations indicate that newly developed sericea lespedeza cultivars have thinner and more pliable stems than the types originally introduced into the USA. However, this has not been quantified. Thus the objectives of this study were 1) to study genetic and environmental factors influencing growth and regrowth; and 2) to compare plant characteristics and plant to plant variability of old and new cultivars. In 2007, five cultivars were grown under growth chamber conditions at Plant Sciences Research Center, Auburn, AL, USA at three day-night temperature combinations (32/19C, 28/15C, 24/11C). Cultivars were subjected to two cutting treatments under RCB design with split-split plot restrictions. Data was collected on plant characteristics such as plant height and number of branches at 5 and 7 weeks from sowing and at the same interval for regrowth. Total fresh weight, stem dry weight, leaf dry weight, and stem diameter were measured at the time of application of two cutting treatments. Furthermore, shear force at the base of dry stems of all cultivars from both cutting treatments was measured in an attempt to determine cultivar to cultivar differences. We will report our findings from the growth chamber study.