Field evaluation of elephant grass mutant lines (Pennisetum purpureum Schumach.) in highlands

Forages plays a pivotal key to run livestock business successfully. Elephant grass cv. Taiwan is one of high quality forages with high productivity and nutrient content. Planting the elephant grass in highlands has not been widely applied, hence, the mutation induction techniques can produce mutants with new superior characteristics to adapt in the highlands. This study aimed to evaluate yield characters and nutrient contents of the elephant grass mutant lines in Cijeruk, Bogor. The research used randomized block design (RBD) with nine treatments and three replications. The results showed that each elephant grass mutant line had different response to each parameter. The best growth rate, productivity, and quality was obtained from M7 line with the highest parameters on plant height (226.86 cm), stem length (142.91 cm), stem diameter (2.13 cm), crude protein content (PK; 17.50%), and crude fiber (32.01%).