Dairy Up project 1c: Unlocking the potential of kikuyu based pastures - genetic variability

Kikuyu is a C4 tropical grass which in Australia is an important component of dairy pastures. Genetic diversity is the base for survival of plants in nature and for crop improvement. Diversity in plant genetic resources provides opportunity for plant breeders to develop new and improved cultivars with desirable characteristics. This project will explore and evaluate promising lines of Kikuyu that have been selected for increased biomass production and tolerance to salinity and drought in Australian conditions.