• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.185-188
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• 2019

The production of traditional cool season grasses in temperate regions is becoming hampered during summer seasons due to water deficit. Thus, incorporating water use efficient warm season annual grasses are generally considered to fill the gap of summer season forage reduction that would offer considerable flexibility and adaptability to respond to forage demand. Teff (Eragrostis teff Zuccagni) Trotter) is, a C4 drought tolerant warm season annual grass primarily grown for grain production, recently gaining interest for forage production particularly during summer season. Previous reports have showed that teff is palatable and has comparable forage biomass and feed quality as compared to other warm season annual grasses which would make it an alternative forage. However, the available data are not comprehensive to explore the potential of teff as forage, hence further assessment of genotype variability and performance along with compatibility study of teff with forage production system of specific environment is key for future utilization.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.55-62
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• 2013

Teff grass is a warm season C4 annual grass that is used for dry hay, silage and haylage. We have developed a high-frequency plant regeneration system for teff grass via callus culture using mature seeds. It was revealed that mature seeds cultured on MS medium supplemented with 2 mg/l 2,4-D, 0.5 g/L proline, 0.5 g/L casamino acid and 3 g/L Gelrite under light condition produced the highest percentage of callus formation (91.9%). Addition of cytokinins (BA) at 0.0~0.5 mg/L to media containing 2 mg/l 2,4-D enhanced callus growth. The most suitable medium for plant regeneration from dehydrated calli was MS agar medium supplemented with 0.1 mg/l NAA, 1 mg/l BA, 0.5 g/L proline, 0.5 g/L casamino acid 3 g/L Gelrite which induced the highest percentage of calli forming shoots (47.0%). The shoots were rooted at the highest rate (100%) when transferred onto 1/2 MS medium and acclimated in greenhouse conditions.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.63 no.3
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• pp.510-519
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• 2021

One of the most pressing issues facing the dairy industry is drought. In areas where annual precipitation is low, irrigation for growing feed presents the greatest water-utilization challenge for dairy producers. Here, we investigated the effects of cultivar and harvest days after planting (DAP) on dry matter (DM) yield and nutritive value of teff (Eragrostis tef), a warm-season annual grass native to Ethiopia that is well adapted to drought conditions. Eighty pots were blocked by location in a greenhouse and randomly assigned to four teff cultivars (Tiffany, Moxie, Corvallis, and Dessie) and to five harvest times (40, 45, 50, 55, or 60 DAP). Cultivars had no effect on DM yield and nutritive value. As harvest time increased from 40 to 60 DAP, DM yield and ash-free neutral detergent fiber (aNDFom) concentrations increased, while crude protein (CP) concentrations and in vitro NDF digestibility decreased. To assess carryover effects of time of harvest on yield and nutritive value, two additional cuttings were taken from each pot. Increasing first-cutting harvest time decreased CP concentrations in the second cutting and reduced DM yields in the second and third cutting. Harvesting teff between 45 and 50 DAP best optimized forage yield and nutritive value in the first and subsequent cuttings.