03732nam a2200565 a 450000100080000000500110000800800410001910000190006024501360007926000390021530000100025450000220026452022370028665000100252365000240253365000170255765000120257465000190258665000150260565000110262065000150263165000150264665000140266165000100267565000100268565000130269565000120270865000200272065000350274065000220277565000230279765000120282065000220283265000170285465000170287165300170288865300160290565300240292165300370294565300110298265300200299365300180301365300310303165300120306265300260307465300090310065300150310965300160312465300260314015629651998-09-25       1998    bl uuuu  m   00u1 u    #d1 aFONSECA, C. L.  aBreeding for neutral detergent-soluble fiber and associations among forage quality traits, vigor, and disease resistance in alfafa.  a[Ithaca]: Cornell Universityc1998  a123p.  aPhD Dissertation.  aLittle is known about breeding for neutral detergent-soluble fiber (NDSF) and about the genetic relationship among diseases, quality traits, and vigor in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). We conducted a study to determine the potencial use of near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) to predict NDSF concentration, mostly pectin in alfalfa, and to estimate heritability and expected gains from selection for NDSF concentration. Data were collected from herbage harvested three times in 1996 and twice in 1997 from two alfalfa half-sib (HS) progeny tests. Initially, a comparison between 90 and 80% ethanol extractions was made for NIRS calibration using samples from the second harves, 1996. Both 90 and 80% ethanol extraction was used to assay all of the remaining samples. The calibration equation standard errors for predicting NDSF from individual harvest were small, ranging from 4.71 to 7.54 g kg 1-. Squared coefficients of multiple determination (R) ranged from 0.72 to 0.97. Near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) can be a useful tool quickly evaluate NDSF concentration from a large number of forage samples. Selection of parent genotypes with high NDSF concentrations based on HS family evaluation and NIRS equations may be effective. In a separate study, the same populations were evaluated for resistance to five diseases, nutritional quality, and vigor. Simple, phenotypic, and additive genetic correlation coefficients were estimated for all possible combinations of traits from independent experiments for each dissease and quality trait. Selection for bacterial wilt resistance in some populations may have a positive impact on Fusarium wilt resistance. Selection for higher NDSF concentrations may decrease the concentrations of the other cell-wall fiber components and increase true in vitro dry matter digestibility. Selections for lower fiber and/or higher crude protein concentrations may decrese vigor. Significant correlations between quality traits, disease resistances, and vigor were not of sufficient magnitude to adversely affect the improvement of these traits. Direct selection for all traits, except for phytophthora root rot, based on HS progeny tests, may be effective for both populations.  afungi  agenetic correlation  aheritability  apectins  aplant breeding  asolubility  aAlfafa  aAntracnose  aDetergente  aFenótipo  aFibra  aFungo  aFusarium  aLignina  aMedicago Sativa  aMelhoramento Genético Vegetal  aMurcha Bacteriana  aMurcha de Fusarium  aPectina  aPodridão da Raiz  aSolubilidade  aVerticillium  aAnthracnosis  aBacterioses  aCorrelacao genetica  aEspectrofotometro infra-vermelho  aFibres  aFungal diseases  aHerdabilidade  aInfrared spectrophotometry  aLignins  aMurcha de verticilium  aNIRS  aPhenotypes  aPhytophtora  aSurface active agents