Strategies for utilization of the germplasm of a tropical apomictic buffel grass

A global germplasm collection of 372 accessions of Cenchrus have been characterised for their morphological, phenological and reproductive parameters. This germplasm comprised eight species of Cenchrus, viz., C. ciliaris, C. setigerus, C. glaucus, C. pennesetiformis, C. prieurii, C. biflorus, C. echinatus and C. myosuroides along with some putative natural hybrids. These accessions were collected from more than 30 countries, majority of them from African countries. Range of variation recorded among these accessions for 21 parameters exhibited high amount of diversity. Based on the yield analysis elevon superior accessions were identified for further evaluation in All India Co-ordinated Trials. The results will be presented in detail and the strategies for conservation and utilization of this predominandy apomictic forage grass will be discussed.