Despite the importance of forage grasses for livestock in Brazil, the amount of information available remains limited, especially for breeding purposes. The basic knowledge about any given species is fundamental to direct genetic improvement programs, helping in the selection of efficient strategies that will lead to a greater selection gain. Essential information includes reproduction mode and outcrossing rate, which help not only breeding programs but also germplasm conservation. Traditional m

Status: Completed     Start date: Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 GMT-03:00 2015

The spittlebug, Mahanarva spectabilis, causes two types of injury to forage crops. The nymphs constantly suck the sap, causing the whole plant to yellow. The other type of damage is caused by the adult spittlebug, which feeds on shoot, leaves and sprouts, causing a phytotoxic response that varies among grass species used in pastures. Given the impact of this insect on forage crops, it is important to understand how global changes may influence its ecology and thus assess whether future i ...

Status: Completed     Start date: Wed Dec 01 00:00:00 GMT-03:00 2010

The control of spittlebugs, in general, is compromised by the failure to recognize that the impact of this insect pest can vary greatly, due to taxonomic diversity, the extent of habitats, climatic factors and pasture management. Furthermore, insects and plants co-evolve and this factor must be taken into account, since the discovery of resistant cultivars requires a relatively long period and the knowledge of the bases of the insect-pest interaction with the plant can be a key point for the ree

Status: Completed     Start date: Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 GMT-03:00 2008

Pastures of Cynodon spp. and elephantgrass ( Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) have their productivity and forage quality directly affected by weed interference. The difficulty of controlling weeds is one of the main obstacles to growing and using these forage crops as an input in animal feeding, as well as in the production of elephantgrass biomass for energy use. Despite the progress in agroecological weed control techniques, herbicides are still indispensable, especially in crops on ...

Status: Completed     Start date: Sat Jul 01 00:00:00 GMT-03:00 2017

Embrapa Gado de Leite has the main Elephant Grass Germplasm Active Bank (BAGCE) in the country. However, the main species of grasshopper (Hemiptera: Cercopidae) and the genetic variability for resistance to these pest insects were not known. Therefore, the objective of this work was to study the population dynamics of spittlebugs and to evaluate the accessions of the elephant grass germplasm bank, regarding resistance to Mahanarva liturata. The population dynamics of cercopids in Coronel Pacheco

Status: Completed     Start date: Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 GMT-03:00 2008