The Malvinas War (1982) marks a before and after in the history of Argentina. 37 years after the war, formulating an organic historical reading is conflicting because –in keeping with the concepts of Agamben– it has never stopped happening. The theater is positioned in the post-war Argentina as a memorialist construct, a valuable territory due to its potential to activate the works of memory. The case of the Museo Miguel Ángel Boezzio (1998) by Federico León (Buenos Aires, 1975), occupies a central space in our research. This is because it articulates theater, testimony, conference and museum from a critical perspective to build a particular representation of the war and its effects. The present article seeks to examine from the guidelines of Comparative Poetics in what ways Leon produces a stimulus device that aims to mobilize the viewer and allows not only revisit facts from the recent past, but also produce new thoughts about history.
Asia's maize (Zea mays L.) sector has shown rapid growth during the last few decades. This article reviews the evolving maize sector in Asia, focusing on the eight main maize-producing countries: China, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. Taken together, these eight Asian countries now produce 98% of Asia's maize and 26% of global maize but show major geographic variation in maize economy indicators and dynamics. The article flags some of the implications of Asia's maize sector for the poor and the evolving roles for the public and private sectors. Challenges and opportunities to accelerate maize production in Asia are reviewed. There remain significant growth opportunities for maize in Asia, and this calls for an integrated research and development approach to strengthen the innovation pathways needed to sustainably reduce poverty, enhance incomes and conserve natural resources.
Detailed germination studies were conducted on seeds of two subspecies of Vernonia. galamensis (nairobiensis and afromontana var. gibbosa), a potential industrial oil crop. Plants of both subspecies were grown at two experimental sites in Kenya and sequential harvesting carried out during seed development to determine the best production environment and optimum harvest time for low-dormant, high-quality seed-lots. Seeds harvested at different maturity levels were germinated under different temperature regimes before and after desiccation. The studies revealed that the onset of germinability and desiccation tolerance was achieved during the dry matter accumulation phase of seed development and that seeds developed dormancy 3 to 6 d after acquiring germinability, with high levels of germination only reaching under an alternating temperature regime. The seeds of the subsp. nairobiensis were shown to be more dormant than those of the subsp. afromontana var. gibbosa. Similarly, seeds harvested from a warmer environment were less dormant than those from a cooler environment. KEYWORDS: seed dormancyseed developmentproduction environment Vernonia galamensis The authors wish to thank the technicians involved in data collection and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Millennium Seed Bank Project (MSBP) and Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) for financial and logistical support of this study. The MSBP is supported by the UK Millennium Commission, the Wellcome Trust and Orange plc. The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew receives grant-aided support from Defra, UK.
Desiccating and germinating seeds are particularly prone to oxidative stress. Glutathione (GSH) is one of the most abundant and ubiquitous antioxidants in plants. To better understand GSH's role in developing and germinating seeds, wildtype (WT) and a line of seed antisense for glutathione reductase 2 (anGR2), one of two glutathione reductase (GR) genes characterized in the genetic model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, were compared. GSH levels in maturing and germinating seeds were measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and GR activity by native Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). Natural and accelerated aging and germination at high temperature and under water stress were compared for WT and anGR2 seeds. Total GSH pools were two-fold less in anGR2 than in WT after three hours of imbibition. Under high temperature and osmotic stress, germination percentages were lower in anGR2, suggesting a specific relationship between GSH metabolism and stress defense mechanisms early in germination. Germination of anGR2 seeds declined while that of WT seeds increased slightly, during nine months of conventional storage. The relationship between GR2 transcript and activity levels during early imbibition and total GSH pools suggest a key role for GR2 in protection against environmental stress. This study shows that GSH metabolism is one factor that determines the stress tolerance of germinating Arabidopsis seeds.
In the absence of organized formal public or private sector, finding an innovative alternative seed delivery remains a key challenge. ICARDA initiated a novel approach of establishing farmer-led village-based seed enterprises (VBSEs) to ensure rapid access to quality seed of adapted new crop varieties under the Alternative Livelihoods Program (ALP-E) on integrated staple crop development in eastern Afghanistan. This article describes VBSEs, their technical performance, profitability, and impact, and assesses their sustainability as alternative options in Afghanistan. The technical performance of VBSEs showed that they collectively produced 1,060 and 2,170 MT quality seed of wheat, rice, mung bean, and potato in 2006/7 and in 2007/8, respectively. Average purity and germination of seed produced was 98.67 and 93.47%, respectively, in 2006/7 and 98.13 and 91.25% in the same order for 2007/8. It is evident from the profitability analysis of VBSEs' seed operations that all were economically viable by breaking even and covering fixed and variable costs. The net profit from seed business was $315,531 for 15 VBSEs in 2006/7 and it reached $1,311,060 in 2007/8 for 17 VBSEs. For all VBSEs, returns-to-asset ratio showed strong earnings of 3.5% and 4% in 2006/7 and 2007/8, respectively and were lower than an acceptable stress level of 6%. All VBSEs had current ratio above the threshold of one and therefore were not vulnerable to meet short-term debts. The average debt-to-asset ratio of all VBSEs was low (5% in 2006/7 and 1.6% in 2007/8) suggesting their strong borrowing capacity with no financial risk. Similarly, the debt-to-equity ratio indicated that in all cases, the farmers' share of the seed enterprise equity averaged about 5.42% and 1.6% during 2006/7 and 2007/8, respectively. The most progressive and experienced VBSEs are using diversification strategies to increase and stabilize revenues. This provides evidence that quality-seed production at community-level in the form of VBSEs is profitable and an alternative seed-delivery system complementing the formal sector in Afghanistan and elsewhere.
Protocol for bulblet regeneration from tepal segments was developed in Asiatic hybrid lily cultivars. The explants were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with different concentrations of ∞-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and 6-benzyladenine (BA). The days for bulblet initiation decreased with the addition of NAA and/or BA in the medium. The bulblets were initiated much earlier (26.9 d) with 1 mg l−1 NAA and 0.5 mg l−1 BA. About 75% of the cultures with 1.2 bulblets per explants were observed in growth regulator-free medium. However, the regeneration response increased to 80.82% with 1.5 mg l−1 NAA and 0.5 mg l−l BA. The number of bulblets per explant and average fresh weight was highest with 1.5 and 1 mg l−1 NAA in combination with 0.5 mg l−1 BA. Among the cultivars, maximum number of bulblets was recorded for ‘Alaska’, whereas heaviest bulblets were observed in ‘Pollyana’. The bulblets attaining the size of 14–16 cm flowered in two and a half years without any phenotypic variations. The protocol developed for bulblet regeneration in Asiatic hybrid lilies from tepal explant could be adopted for mass propagation of commercially important cultivars of lily as an alternative to bulb-scale.
Rice productivity can be enhanced through exploitation of heterosis in hybrids with a possible positive impact on food security. Making planned crosses is difficult in rice because of the morphology and size of the inflorescence. This study was undertaken to investigate the efficacy of a gametocide (ethrel) as an emasculating agent. Experiments were conducted at ICRISAT Research Station at Samanko in Mali during 2004–2005. A factorial arrangement in a randomized complete-block design involving three levels of concentrations of the gametocide and five application stages was undertaken for two seasons. Morpho-physiological trait responses and spikelet sterility data were recorded on the female treated plants. Ethrel could induce 40 to 49% male sterility in rice. Percentage of empty spikelets and male sterility increased with increasing concentration of ethrel, reaching a peak between 2,000 ppm (2.0 g L−1) and 4,000 ppm (4.0 g L−1). Male sterility induction of 41.5% and 42.8% at 2000 ppm was achieved in 2004 and 2005, respectively; whereas at 4,000 ppm, male sterility induction was 40.5% and 46.1% in 2004 and 2005, respectively. The best application stage of ethrel that induced the highest male sterility was at P4 (panicle primordium differentiation + spikelet primordium differentiation) of 46.6% in 2004 and 49.2% at P1 (panicle primordium differentiation) in 2005. A conclusion is that ethrel causes partial male sterility and as such might not be a promising gametocide for rice emasculation.
Lack of access to high quality seeds is a major factor contributing to the worsening of food security situation in Africa and the integration of the formal and informal seed sectors has been advocated as the most viable option for boosting seed security. However, there are concerns about the quality of seeds from the informal sector for which information is not available. To bridge this gap, maize (Zea mays L.) seed samples were drawn from community seed producers in five states in southwest Nigeria. Seed moisture content was estimated gravimetrically and the samples were subjected to seed quality tests, namely standard germination, accelerated aging, and conductivity tests. Across states, locations within states and producers, overall mean standard germination percentage was 91.45 ± 1.51%, standard germination index 5.63 ± 0.16 d, accelerated aging germination 47.10 ± 6.15%, accelerated germination index 9.59 ± 0.77 d and conductivity 8.48 ± 0.68 μS cm−1 g−1. These results indicate a physiologically-nonuniform seedlot with high viability but low vigor. State-to-state as well as farmer-to-farmer variability in the viability and vigor of the seeds were also significant (p < 0.05), suggesting limited knowledge of the community seed producers on production and handling of high quality maize seeds. It was concluded that the production of high quality maize seed could be achieved in wetter agro-ecologies and by community seed producers. However, this will require capacity enhancement of the community seed producers and managers in areas like management and harvesting of seed crop, management of postharvest operations, and detailed record-keeping.
The objectives of this study were: (1) to determine general combining ability (GCA) of 25 inbred lines selected from CIMMYT populations, specific combining ability (SCA), heterotic specific-group combining ability (HSPGCA) of testcrosses from these 25 lines, using four testers; (2) to determine optimum number of testers for evaluating a large number of exotic lines. The 25 exotic lines were crossed with four elite local maize inbred lines (a line × tester design). A randomized complete-block design with three replications was used at two locations. Data on grain yield and five yield-component traits were recorded. Combining ability analysis showed 8 exotic lines to be genetically similar to the testers and could be assigned to the two current maize heterotic groups. Correlation analysis indicated that one tester had correctly selected the top best lines from a large number of exotic lines. However, when line × location interaction is significant, exotic line performance should be evaluated at multiple locations or multiple years or both. KEYWORDS: Zea maystropical maizetemperate maizeheterotic pattern and heterotic groupinbred linesgeneral and specific combining abilitytester number
The purpose of this review is to share with developing countries how a dedicated agricultural university helped enhance food production and thwart Malthusian scenario. The Indian adequacy on the food-front has largely been attributed to the development of improved seeds of different crops, in particular wheat and rice, efficient system of agro-technology generation and its transfer to farmers, and useful coordination between state development departments and suitable government policies. We have discussed the revolutionary role of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) in transforming a food-deficient India into a food self-sufficient nation. This dramatic transformation is dubbed the Green Revolution. Fueled by scientific research, PAU has, since its inception in 1962, released more than 580 improved varieties/hybrids of field crops, vegetables, fruits, fodder, and ornamentals. Now, almost the entire cropped area of the Punjab state is under improved varieties. This is because PAU has one of the best seed-production and delivery programs among agricultural universities in India. Its total seed production capacity during the last five years was >30,000 tons. Millions of disease-free nursery plants of fruits and ornamentals are supplied to farmers annually. The seed-production technology, together with an improved seed-distribution system, has given an impetus to agriculture in recent years. New breeding methods and modern technologies, such as biotechnology, electron microscopy, and nanotechnology, should provide even better seeds in the future. The scanning electron microscopy facilities at PAU have helped distinguish between seed surfaces of drought-resistant and drought-susceptible genotypes of Indian mustard, and, revealed that seed coat microstructure could be used as a selection criterion for stress tolerance. Farmer training in the production of hybrid seed and nursery help boost seed production and farmers' income. The seed-plot technique in potato and rhizobium inoculation of pulse seeds have had a strong impact on production. The supply of high-quality mushroom spawn and quality Kinnow (citrus) plantlets to farmers has boosted mushroom and citrus production, and thereby the farmers' incomes. Ever-increasing population requires universities, such as PAU, to continue to play pivotal roles in enhancing food production. Seed production programs will need to be put on a new trajectory to double food production by 2050 and agricultural universities would need to be strengthened to meet this critical goal.
This article examined the consumption pattern of households for cassava food products (gari, cassava flour, and fufu) and their substitutes (semovita and yam flour) for the periods before and after the implementation of the Cassava exportation policy using the Almost Ideal Demand System. Data were collected using structured questionnaires administered on 218 households in Ibadan North Local Government Area. The analytical techniques used include descriptive and almost ideal demand system (AIDS), from where own and cross price elasticities were calculated before and after the exportation.The mean budget shares of households for cassava food products decreased after the export policy whereas those of their substitutes increased after it. From the result of the computed own price elasticities, the cassava food products were seen to be more price-elastic after the exportation than before it, and the result of the computed cross-price elasticities shows higher values for the substitutes of cassava food products indicating that there is higher shift towards these substitutes after the exportation than before it. The expenditure elasticities were higher after the exportation than it was before the exportation, with the substitutes increasing at a higher rate than the cassava food products. In the short run, the exportation is a strain on the availability of cassava products for domestic consumption and therefore producers of these products will react to demand signals through increased production that will be sufficient for both the local and export market.
Effects of hormonal priming by cytokinin (CK), auxin, and gibberellin (GA) at 0, 25, 50, and 100 ppm of aged and nonaged seeds of bromegrass (Bromus inermis) on some physiological properties of seedlings were evaluated in a pot experiment. The seeds were subjected to accelerated aging to produce aged seeds. Percentage and rate of seedling emergence, seedling vigor, seedling-growth rate (SGR), seedling dry weight, chlorophyll and activity of catalase and peroxidase of seedling decreased following accelerated aging. Auxin priming improved emergence, vigor, SGR, root length, shoot, and seedling height. CK produced largest leaf area, whereas GA-primed seed had the highest concentration of chlorophyll in seedlings. Results suggested that physiological quality of bromegrass seed, especially aged seed, could be improved by hormonal priming. Auxin had the most positive effect on percent emergence, rate of emergence and SGR; CK and GA had positive effects on chlorophyll and leaf area. The three phytohormones in appropriate ratio in the priming solution improved aged seeds of bromegrass physiologically.
The high price of hybrid seed of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) may be compensated for by realized higher profits obtained from cultivation of hybrids. The objective of the present study was to ascertain the magnitude and direction of relative heterosis in hybrids involving rin, nor, or alc alleles for yield and quality traits, as well as the existence of correlation among relative heterosis for these traits. Significant relative heterosis was observed for all the traits. Not even a single hybrid exhibited significant and negative relative heterosis for marketable yield and number of fruits per plant. The magnitude of relative heterosis varied from −37.06% to 45.72% for average fruit weight, −13.68% to 11.36% for pH, and −53.73% to 54.62% for ascorbic acid. The F1 hybrids of tomato had, in general, higher marketable yield and number of fruits per plant as compared with their mid-parental values. However, the average weight, pH, and ascorbic acid of fruits of tomato hybrids were higher, lower, or equal to their mid-parental values. The increase in yield of most of the hybrids was accompanied by an increase in fruit number, fruit weight and ascorbic acid but was not correlated with increase or decrease in pH. Fruit number played greater role than fruit weight in improving marketable yield of tomato hybrids. Future studies on tomato may be aimed to validate the existence of a correlation among an increase in ascorbic acid of hybrids with a simultaneous increase in their marketable yield, fruit number and fruit weight.
Research on agricultural value chains can identify strategies for farmers to improve their incomes and livelihood security. The trend in such research, however, has often been to focus on making the chains more effective and efficient via improvements in the relationships between chain actors. Value-chain research has less frequently been applied to the seed sector in identifying how plant breeding can best produce seeds that generate a product with the quality characteristics demanded by output markets. In this article, we report on a research initiative to support maize-seed improvement for the central highlands of Mexico. The research was designed to identify quality traits, demanded in regional maize markets, to add to the list of targeted traits which typically guide plant breeding. We report on the methodological approach and the research findings. We then discuss how these findings are being integrated into ongoing maize-breeding programs for the central highlands of Mexico. We suggest that a value-chain analysis can provide useful guidance to crop-breeding programs, providing plant breeders with information on agronomic characteristics required by producers and quality traits demanded by the market. Keywords: crop breedingseed sectorsmallholder farmersmarket accessmaizeMexicoZea mays L Notes 1. A hybrid results from crossing two inbred lines, while OPVs are populations that breeders have selected for a very specific set of traits, and that are usually composited from a larger number of inbred lines and multiplied via natural (open) rather than controlled pollination. If the hybrid seed is replanted, it will not be as productive as the original seed. Therefore, seed has to be purchased every season to maintain high productivity. Seed from an OPV, meanwhile, can be replanted usually up to three years without major drops in yield, but is generally lower-yielding than a first-generation (F1) hybrid. 2. PROCAMPO is a generalized per-hectare agricultural subsidy which is arguably the most widely available support mechanism for farming in Mexico. 3. The line between markets considered “formal” and “informal” is somewhat blurry. However, in general, formal markets can be considered to be those which consist of transactions between businesses or individuals formally registered with the government. Informal sales include on-the-spot sales by farmers to intermediaries, or transactions between intermediaries and un-registered producers of tortillas.
Aromatic cultivars of rice respond differently to nitrogen application as compared to nonaromatic rice. Most of the aromatic rice cultivars are susceptible to disease and insect pest attack, and are more prone to lodging. Therefore, nitrogen is the key input for increasing the productivity of aromatic rice. Research analyzing the effects of N level on yield and nitrogen-use efficiency (NUE) of modern aromatic cultivars is not well documented. Therefore, the present study was conducted to optimize N levels for higher yield and NUE of modern aromatic rice cultivars. Across all genotypes, the mean nitrogen-fertilizer response was highest at 40 kg N/ha as compared to other N levels (0, 20, and 60 kg N/ha), indicating that further increase in N level had no effect on crop response to fertilizer. The mean grain yield increased by 64.2% when plots were supplemented with 40 kg N/ha as compared to control (unfertilized). Among cultivars, ‘Punjab Mehak 1’ registered highest yield (4.3 t/ha), followed by ‘Pusa 1121’ (4.0 t/ha) and ‘Punjab Basmati 2’ (3.9 t/ha). Interactive effect between N levels and cultivars revealed that ‘Punjab Mehak 1’ responded significantly up to 60 kg N/ha due to more NUE and higher N uptake as compared to ‘Pusa 1121’ and ‘Punjab Basmati 2’. Results from this study indicate that genotype differences in NUE existed in aromatic rice cultivars; therefore, NUE of different cultivars could be a useful tool to adopt the appropriate cultural practices for achieving high yield and N response exploration.
Polyphenols are bioactive compounds, mainly concentrated in seed coats, which play an important role in human nutrition. Ten samples of mung bean (Phaseolus aureus L.), including three yellow cultivars representing a broad range of varietal characteristics, such as color and seed weight, were analyzed for their polyphenol content. The effect of dehulling on the polyphenol content was studied. The concentration of total polyphenols was found to be in the range of 280 mg to 356 mg/100 g whole seeds, 702 mg to 1296 mg/100 g seed coat, and 172 mg to 286 mg/100 g cotyledons. Most of the polyphenols were concentrated in the seed coat. The average polyphenol content of yellow cultivars was found to be higher than the green cultivars, except in 'China Mung'. The acidic methanol extract polyphenols constitute about 75% and methanolic extract polyphenols about 25% of the total polyphenols. Dehulling reduced polyphenol content significantly (p < .01) by 14% to 52%. Yellow cultivars contained more seed coat polyphenols, which helps the seeds in combating against pathogens and seed viability. Keywords: mung beanpolyphenolsdehulling We are grateful to Agriculture Research Station, Aland Road, Gulbarga and farmer Gundajja for providing us mung bean samples. Thanks are also due to Gulbarga University, Gulbarga, for the laboratory facility.
Weed infestation is a major constraint to widespread adoption of aerobic, direct-seeded rice (Oryza sativa L.). Higher than optimum initial seeding density for obtaining more panicles/m2 is often accompanied by reduced panicle size and 1,000-grain weight, and high rate of spikelet sterility. On the other hand, weeds in plots with a lower seeding rate have a better chance to emerge, grow and build up a strong population and thus pose a serious crop-weed competition. Experiments were conducted during kharif (rainy season) 2008 and 2009 to determine the optimum seed rate that can substantially reduce rice-yield loss caused by weed competition under aerobic conditions. A factorial-treatment arrangement was used with factors consisting of five seed rates (15, 30, 60, 120, and 240 kg/ha) and two weed-pressure treatments (weedy-check and weed-free). Weed pressure caused a significant reduction in yield; there was up to 36.2% reduction in yield for weedy check as compared with the weed-free treatment. Seeding rate was inversely correlated to weed interference. The results suggested that higher seed rates caused significant reductions in weed dry matter, whereas higher than optimum seed rate (15–30 kg/ha) caused reduction in yield. Of all the seeding rates used, 15–30 kg/ha had the lowest grain-yield losses caused by weeds. Therefore, it was concluded that optimum seed rate in direct-seeded rice would minimize the effect of weed competition on rice growth and grain yield and thus would reduce herbicide use, promoting integrated-weed management. Further, this proposition improves economy of the farmers who are thinking to shift to hybrid rice, whose seed is very costly. This investigation supports use of hybrid rice cultivars in DSR using a seed rate of 15–30 kg/ha. Keywords: Oryza sativaplant densityweed controlsustainable weed managementdirect drilling of rice
Comparative evaluation of the physical characteristics of seeds, viz. color, size and density, proportion of seed coat, pores on the seed coat surface and “hourglass” cells in the seed coat, and seed longevity was made in 12 soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] varieties. Physical properties of seed influenced the strength of the seed coat, which provides protection from mechanical damage during the preharvest and postharvest operations. There was significant genotypic variation for most of the seed characteristics, particularly, the gap between the seed coat and cotyledon, and the shape and distribution of hourglass cells in the seed coat. Good storer black-seeded varieties had lesser gap between the seed coat and cotyledon than the poor storer yellow-seeded varieties. Lesser gap was associated with higher mechanical strength of the seed coat. Black-seeded varieties had fewer pores on the seed coat surface and higher lignin content than the yellow-seeded varieties. Significance of these findings in developing better storer soybean varieties is discussed.
Producing more rice (Oryza sativa L.) with less water is a formidable challenge for the food, economic, social, and water security. To achieve this, the knowledge of how plant water stress is transduced into plant performance is necessary. The objective of this research was to investigate in hybrid rice the impact of soil water deficit, especially on reproductive growth and photosynthetic activities that lead to the ultimate harvestable product—grains. The early reproductive growth period, encompassing tetrad-formation stage of meiosis (i.e., about 10–15 d prior to heading), was found to be the most sensitive and critical to water deficit resulting in up to 59% grain sterility that caused similar magnitude of yield reduction. As the grain formation progressed further, the early period of grain-filling was found to be more vulnerable to water stress than the late-milk stages. The behavior of upper leaves appeared to be conspicuously at variance under water stress in that the survival of flag leaf dropped from 81% at booting to 58% at heading, whereas in contrast, the second leaf registered the survival of only 30% at booting, which rose to 66% at heading stage. The drought-affected reduction in grain weight was attributable to the increased diffusive resistance of upper leaves during early hours of water stress (i.e., 2.5 s/cm in control plants), rose to 12 s/cm in stressed plants, restricting photosynthesis followed by 50%–70% decrease in the activities of carboxylating enzyme ribulose 1, 5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO), and enhanced chlorophyll degradation during progressive water stress. Apparently, depending upon the time and intensity of the onset of water shortage, the grain number and its size both are likely to be affected adversely, leading to diminished productivity of hybrid rice. The present findings highlight the possibility of genetically engineering the variants of hybrid and transgenic rice having increased activities of RuBisCO enzyme for efficient photosynthesis under water stress. Further, from the practical point of view, an unplanned stress at flowering caused by a very high evaporative demand due to relatively dry or hot wind and/or inadequate irrigation may lead to high yield reductions. Water-management practices may, therefore, be directed and attempted accordingly to avoid losses in rice yield and to protect the plant from water stress during drought.
Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb) is one of the main perennial forage grasses that naturally grows in temperate pasture and rangelands in northern and western Iran. The objective of this study was to determine the genetic variability among 15 populations of tall fescue via SDS-PAGE analysis of seed storage proteins. This technique generated a total of 46 protein patterns that showed two types of polymorphism: presence or absence of patterns and their intensities. Populations G15 and G24 with average values of 41 and 28 had higher and lower band numbers, respectively. Cluster analysis using UPGMA method was performed on resultant data obtained from SDS-PAGE for seed proteins. Three distinct groups were identified from the cluster analysis at the similarity coefficient level of 0.75. The bands of 65 and 70 kDa can be used as protein markers to identify populations. We concluded that seed storage protein polymorphism could be a useful marker in population identification, study of genetic diversity and improving the efficiency of grass breeding programs.
