Abstract
Increasing neutral detergent‐soluble fiber (NDSF) concentration has been considered a strategy for breeding alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) with improved quality. Pectin is the main component of NDSF and is highly digestible, but the assay for NDSF is time‐consuming. The objectives were (i) to determine the potential use of near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) to predict NDSF concentration in alfalfa and (ii) to estimate NDSF heritability and gain from selection. Herbage was sampled five times across 2 yr from two populations of half‐sib (HS) progeny tested at Ithaca, NY. Calibration equations were developed by multiple linear regression of laboratory values of NDSF on NIRS spectra. Samples from one harvest were assayed twice to compare extraction methods. Means of NDSF from 90‐ and 80%‐ethanol extractions were 213.1 ± 7.21 and 179.5 ± 5.89 g kg −1 , respectively. Assay standard deviations were low for both ethanol concentrations. Because a better calibration equation was obtained with the 80%‐ethanol assay, all remaining samples were assayed by that technique. Standard errors of calibration were small, ranging from 4.71 to 7.54 g kg −1 . Coefficients of multiple determination ( R 2 ) ranged from 0.72 to 0.97. Most heritability estimates for NDSF were significantly greater than zero, ranging from −0.03 ± 0.20 to 0.56 ± 0.17 and averaging 0.41. Expected gain from selection of parents based on HS progeny ranged from 4.6 to 19.0 g kg −1 and averaged 10.3 g kg −1 . Selecting parents with higher NDSF concentrations predicted by NIRS evaluations of HS progenies may improve forage quality of alfalfa.
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Claims 9
Claim · model-written summary
NDSF mean was 213.1 ± 7.21 g kg −1 after 90% ethanol extraction.
- Taxon
- Alfalfa
Medicago sativat0 - Treatment
- 90‐e0
- Outcome
- NDSFe0
- Value
- 213.1 ± 7.21 and 179.5 ± 5.89 g kg −1e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Alfalfa”
e0“Means of NDSF from 90‐ and 80%‐ethanol extractions were 213.1 ± 7.21 and 179.5 ± 5.89 g kg −1 , respectively.”
Claim · model-written summary
NDSF mean was 179.5 ± 5.89 g kg −1 after 80% ethanol extraction.
- Taxon
- AlfalfaMedicago sativat0
- Treatment
- 80%‐ethanol extractionse0
- Outcome
- NDSFe0
- Value
- 179.5 ± 5.89 g kg −1e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Alfalfa”
e0“Means of NDSF from 90‐ and 80%‐ethanol extractions were 213.1 ± 7.21 and 179.5 ± 5.89 g kg −1 , respectively.”
Claim · model-written summary
Assay standard deviations were low at both ethanol concentrations.
- Taxon
- AlfalfaMedicago sativat0
- Outcome
- Assay standard deviationse0
- Direction
- lowe0
- Comparator
- both ethanol concentrationse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Alfalfa”
e0“Assay standard deviations were low for both ethanol concentrations.”
Claim · model-written summary
The 80% ethanol assay gave a better calibration equation.
- Taxon
- AlfalfaMedicago sativat0
- Outcome
- calibration equatione0
- Direction
- bettere0
- Comparator
- 80%‐ethanol assaye0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Alfalfa”
e0“Because a better calibration equation was obtained with the 80%‐ethanol assay”
Claim · model-written summary
NIRS calibration standard errors ranged from 4.71 to 7.54 g kg −1.
- Taxon
- AlfalfaMedicago sativat0
- Outcome
- Standard errors of calibratione0
- Direction
- smalle0
- Value
- 4.71 to 7.54 g kg −1e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Alfalfa”
e0“Standard errors of calibration were small, ranging from 4.71 to 7.54 g kg −1 .”
Claim · model-written summary
NIRS multiple determination coefficients ranged from 0.72 to 0.97.
- Taxon
- AlfalfaMedicago sativat0
- Outcome
- Coefficients of multiple determinatione0
- Value
- 0.72 to 0.97e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Alfalfa”
e0“Coefficients of multiple determination ( R 2 ) ranged from 0.72 to 0.97.”
Claim · model-written summary
Most NDSF heritability estimates exceeded zero significantly and averaged 0.41.
- Taxon
- AlfalfaMedicago sativat0
- Outcome
- heritability estimates for NDSFe0
- Direction
- greater than zeroe0
- Value
- 0.41e0
- Qualifier
- ranging from −0.03 ± 0.20 to 0.56 ± 0.17e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Alfalfa”
e0“Most heritability estimates for NDSF were significantly greater than zero, ranging from −0.03 ± 0.20 to 0.56 ± 0.17 and averaging 0.41.”
Claim · model-written summary
Expected selection gain averaged 10.3 g kg −1.
- Taxon
- AlfalfaMedicago sativat0
- Outcome
- Expected gain from selection of parents based on HS progenye0
- Value
- 10.3 g kg −1e0
- Qualifier
- ranged from 4.6 to 19.0 g kg −1e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Alfalfa”
e0“Expected gain from selection of parents based on HS progeny ranged from 4.6 to 19.0 g kg −1 and averaged 10.3 g kg −1 .”
Claim · model-written summary
Selecting parents with higher NDSF predicted by NIRS may improve alfalfa forage quality.
- Taxon
- AlfalfaMedicago sativat0
- Outcome
- improve forage quality of alfalfae0
- Qualifier
- maye0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Alfalfa”
e0“Selecting parents with higher NDSF concentrations predicted by NIRS evaluations of HS progenies may improve forage quality of alfalfa.”